Former New Zealand Maori and Super Rugby hooker John Akurangi is fighting for his life in an Italian hospital.
Akurangi, who has been living in Italy coaching rugby since 2010, is undergoing an operation on his heart in Milan, with friend Billy Ngawini telling Fairfax that Akurangi was fighting for his life after suffering a torn aorta.
Ngawini said the condition was noticed when in Dubai playing for a Veterans 7s side. It was initially believed to be dehydration before the more serious problem was uncovered.
Akurangi played at prop and hooker in the Super 12 for the Blues (1996), Crusaders (1997) and Chiefs (1999), as well as playing professionally overseas for the Leicester Tigers. He also played for the New Zealand Maori and played his domestic level rugby for Auckland (1994-1997) and Counties Manukau (1998-2001).
He bounced back from being fined $1750 in 2002 after pleading guilty to cultivating cannabis and possession of cannabis, initially becoming a business consultant in Sydney and appearing as an actor in Underbelly 3: The Golden Mile, before getting his coaching career back on track in Italy.
