Latest news with #Barbarians
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
A stage 4 terminal cancer diagnosis didn't stop me from travelling to Australia
Approaching the first security checkpoint in Auckland Airport has always caused me anxiety. So showing up with a cabin bag loaded with oversized syringes, saline, medical oddments and morphine, brought on palpitations and sweating. Further complicating the scenario was various internal metalware and a drain protruding from my abdomen, connected to my bile ducts. Eyebrows were raised as my bags lit up the x-ray machine. I nervously revealed my haul of liquids and supplies. But the sweats were redundant. After a quiet word explaining my situation, the officials could not have been more helpful. The 'pat down' protocol felt a little too intimate, but several minutes later I was safely on the other side, the only confiscation being a half-used tube of toothpaste. All the security checks, both here and in Australia, ran with similar efficiency, without me even needing to show back-up letters from oncologists. Working my way through airport procedures, at a slower pace than usual, certainly raised my stress levels. Fortunately I allowed for extra time on the ground, as my walking speeds are reduced. Charlotte Kutia on the plane. There was a sigh of relief when I was safely in my allocated (aisle) seat. I will only travel in the aisle now, so while great views are a thing of the past, I am safe in the knowledge I can quickly get to the bathroom if necessary without clambering over sleeping bodies. However, the flights were smooth and comfortable. I felt pretty much well the whole of the time mid-air, untroubled by cabin pressure, vomiting or claustrophobia. I even managed to down my share of much-maligned airline cuisine and have it stay put. Sitting in the lit-up sports stadium, watching my son take the field in unfamiliar green and gold, bungle the Australian national anthem and steamily sign autographs after the match is a cherished memory for the coming tough weeks. Charlotte Kutia with her son at his Barbarians game in Coffs Harbour. I have always been an avid reader of travel stories and actively scheming my next destination. I have enjoyed many wonderful destinations in my life. Less in recent years, with the financial challenges of being single and the sole breadwinner in mid-life. After a relationship break-up in my 50s, I realised that there might never be someone to take me on a romantic Pacific Island holiday that I had always longed for, so I decided I would just have to take myself. Charlotte Kutia in Aitutaki. Photo / Supplied I suspected it would be a one-off, so chose the island where I was very sure I would have the full deal – long stretches of white sands, turquoise waters, swaying palms. Aitutaki was the perfect Pacific paradise. Sipping cocktails alone in a resort full of honeymooners was admittedly a strange vibe but the wonderfully warm staff and juicy cocktails under soft pacific night skies were so damn good, they made up for it. Learning to kayak alone in a safe warm blue lagoon with colourful fish at the end of my paddle was unforgettable too. I'm so glad now I took the opportunity at the time, which I will never have again. Other memorable travel memories include eating goat curry in the backblocks of Bangladesh, slurping luscious mangoes in an old yellow Ambassador taxi in Goa, riding elephants with my children in Cambodia, and being blown away by the beauty of the longships in Oslo Museum while exploring a little of my Viking whakapapa in Scandinavia. Charlotte Kutia with her children at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Photo / Supplied With stage four cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer of the bile ducts, and currently on aggressive chemotherapy, I am uninsurable in terms of medical conditions. So for me, the only safe destination now is Australia. But that's okay, because the continent offers more incredible landscapes and adventures than I could ever fit in. From stunning white Whitsunday beaches, to red outback rocks, Kimberley canyons, Snowy mountains, Aboriginal culture and history going back millions of years, food and fashion adventures in stylish cities – there is more to see and experience across the Ditch than I could squeeze into any lifetime. We have reciprocal healthcare arrangements across the Tasman, meaning I will receive a high standard of medical care. For my recent trip to see my son, I took copies of all my medical history with me. My oncologist was also supportive but very clear – any hint of a problem such as high fevers or issues with the external drain in my abdomen, head straight to an A&E hospital. But he also pointed out that many Australians live more than three hours from good hospitals with cancer care, so flying across from NZ is not an outrageous proposition. Charlotte Kutia in Western Australia. Travel insurance may be available at different stages of cancer. Depending what type of cancer you have, how advanced, whether chemo has been effective in controlling it, or for those in remission, cover may indeed be a possibility. My only advice is to discuss your situation with a specialist insurance adviser, have good documents from your doctors, choose your destination with care and be thoroughly honest with the insurer. With a tight timeline to get back home to vital medical appointments, I was hit on the eve of departure with a message from Air New Zealand that our return flight had been cancelled due to 'maintenance issues'. A stressful few hours juggling plans saw me secure the very last seats on a crowded Jetstar flight instead. Anxious about my seating, I spoke with staff as we checked in, explained my condition, and they willingly looked for accessible options. After several minutes messing around with seating plans, they found me an aisle seat, ensuring access to bathrooms for mid-air emergencies. We hit the tarmac back in Auckland intact and on time. My initial flights were refunded by Air NZ as it was their issue that caused the cancellation. The hardest part of the flight was a mental challenge on the final descent back to Auckland Airport. Circling over the city, it was hard not to let the tears fall, knowing that with a terminal diagnosis, this was very probably the last time in my life I would fly abroad, and so many travel dreams would go unfulfilled. A cancer diagnosis didn't stop Charlotte Kutia from travelling. Travel with cancer is certainly not a cinch. But I encountered nothing but empathy and assistance from airline staff and airport officials on both sides of the Tasman. I am grateful that I made the trip – if only for sweaty post-match hugs under the New South Wales night sky. My health since returning home has been a mixed bag. Unfortunately, after four cycles on my previous chemo regime, my CT scans showed no slowdown in my tumours' expansion, which was very frustrating. We recently switched to a new chemical cocktail, which is tough but encouragingly is showing some signs of slowing down the growth. The hardest thing is the uncertainty. Do I have a month to live, three months or a year? Nobody can say for sure. In terms of mindset and that elusive thing called 'happiness', the trip was a huge success. When my son video calls me, eating breakfast on his deck, or sends shots of his hard rugby training, I think 'oh yes, I saw that place', and I feel so much closer to him. Doctors have been clear that my cancer is incurable and chemo is about extending my time to make happy memories. Travelling to be with him was a huge success in that regard. I'm not planning any more trips at the moment, but the latest news is that my son's team is playing well, and last week I got a message saying, 'We might make the grand final, Mum. It would be so cool if you could be here'. Life remains fragile and unpredictable, but I'm not ruling anything out. Tips for travelling with cancer Thoroughly research your destination and what is possible under health care arrangements and/or travel insurance. For me, the only possible destination is Australia, but everyone is different. Share your intentions with your medical specialists as early as possible Check the website for your airline's rules and follow their guidelines. Don't book flights with tight connections – allow extra time getting through airports and plan for fatigue Carefully plan any nutrient and medication requirements. Staying well hydrated is more important than ever If possible, book 'preferred seating' with extra leg space – but your condition probably disqualifies you from sitting in an exit row. Final advice A final word for all healthy travellers with intentions to roam. Cancer strikes with no warning and closes off many pathways. Make the most of your wellness and follow your wildest dreams while you can.
eNCA
3 days ago
- Sport
- eNCA
Erasmus calls time on mass Springbok experiments
MBOMBELA - South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus says mass Springbok experiments will end when he names a 36-man squad on Tuesday for two Rugby Championship Tests against Australia during August. "The bulk of that squad will be experienced players who are suited to the way we want to play while there will be room for one or two guys we want to experiment with," he told reporters. "We wanted to experiment against the Barbarians, Italy and Georgia in build-up matches, and the scorelines we achieved were pretty satisfying. "We used 46 players and gave first caps to a number of players. There are others we want to give opportunities to like Jaden and Jordan (Hendrikse), Quan (Horn) and Renzo (du Plessis). "But the Rugby Championship is definitely a step up, starting with the Wallabies in Johannesburg and Cape Town on successive Saturdays next month." South Africa are defending the Rugby Championship title and after Australia, play in New Zealand twice, then Argentina home and away, with the latter match switched from South America to London. In November, the record four-time Rugby World Cup winners face a daunting tour of Europe, including France in Paris and Ireland in Dublin. Erasmus, a key figure in different coaching roles in the 2019 and 2023 World Cup triumphs, also reflected on the build-up matches for the southern hemisphere championship. "We are fairly happy if you look over the four games," he said, recalling victories over the Barbarians (54-7), Italy (42-24 and 45-0) and, this weekend, Georgia (55-10). Each Test was preceded by many personnel changes to the matchday 23 -- 10 and 15 for the internationals against Italy and 16 for Georgia. "Georgia were physical and disruptive, but that is not an excuse for making so many errors. If we chop and change while building squad depth, you will have lost rhythm. "We found rhythm in the final 20 minutes and, while the scoreline was impressive, we can always do better." The coach said fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who missed four of five conversion attempts, injured his hip warming up for the match. "Sacha wanted to play, but that is no excuse for the way he kicked at the poles. However, he is certainly not one of the guys who made the most errors."
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Springboks end mass experiments as Rugby Championship looms
SOUTH Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has announced an end to mass squad experiments as the Springboks prepare for the Rugby Championship. A 36-man squad will be named on Tuesday for two Tests against Australia in August, marking a shift toward experienced players. 'The bulk of that squad will be experienced players who are suited to the way we want to play while there will be room for one or two guys we want to experiment with,' Erasmus told reporters. He acknowledged the value of recent warm-up matches, where 46 players were tested, including debutants. South Africa dominated their pre-tournament fixtures, defeating the Barbarians (54-7), Italy (42-24 and 45-0), and Georgia (55-10). Despite the victories, Erasmus noted inconsistencies due to frequent lineup changes. 'If we chop and change while building squad depth, you will have lost rhythm,' he said. The Rugby Championship presents tougher challenges, starting with back-to-back Tests against Australia in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The Springboks will then face New Zealand twice before home-and-away clashes with Argentina, including a relocated fixture in London. Erasmus also addressed fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's struggles against Georgia, where he missed four conversions. 'Sacha wanted to play, but that is no excuse for the way he kicked at the poles,' the coach said. Replacement Handre Pollard, however, delivered a flawless performance with four successful kicks and a try. With a demanding European tour in November, including matches against France and Ireland, the Springboks are prioritizing cohesion ahead of further challenges. - AFP
France 24
3 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Coach Erasmus calls time on mass Springbok experiments
"The bulk of that squad will be experienced players who are suited to the way we want to play while there will be room for one or two guys we want to experiment with," he told reporters. "We wanted to experiment against the Barbarians, Italy and Georgia in build-up matches, and the scorelines we achieved were pretty satisfying. "We used 46 players and gave first caps to a number of players. There are others we want to give opportunities to like Jaden and Jordan (Hendrikse), Quan (Horn) and Renzo (du Plessis). "But the Rugby Championship is definitely a step up, starting with the Wallabies in Johannesburg and Cape Town on successive Saturdays next month." South Africa are defending the Rugby Championship title and after Australia, play in New Zealand twice, then Argentina home and away, with the latter match switched from South America to London. In November, the record four-time Rugby World Cup winners face a daunting tour of Europe, including France in Paris and Ireland in Dublin. Erasmus, a key figure in different coaching roles in the 2019 and 2023 World Cup triumphs, also reflected on the build-up matches for the southern hemisphere championship. "We are fairly happy if you look over the four games," he said, recalling victories over the Barbarians (54-7), Italy (42-24 and 45-0) and, this weekend, Georgia (55-10). Each Test was preceded by many personnel changes to the matchday 23 -- 10 and 15 for the internationals against Italy and 16 for Georgia. "Georgia were physical and disruptive, but that is not an excuse for making so many errors. If we chop and change while building squad depth, you will have lost rhythm. "We found rhythm in the final 20 minutes and, while the scoreline was impressive, we can always do better." The coach said fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who missed four of five conversion attempts, injured his hip warming up for the match. "Sacha wanted to play, but that is no excuse for the way he kicked at the poles. However, he is certainly not one of the guys who made the most errors." When Feinberg-Mngomezulu was substituted after 54 minutes, replacement Handre Pollard succeeded with all four conversion kicks and scored a try. © 2025 AFP
The Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald
Rassie will ease off on Bok experiments in Rugby Championship
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said he would revert to a more settled squad for the Rugby Championship after completing the July series with a nine-try romp against Georgia at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday. Erasmus said he was satisfied with the 55-10 result but attributed a stop-start performance to having rotated the squad throughout the four-match series (including the non-Test match against the Barbarians). In the three matches since the opener against the invitational team in Cape Town, the Bok selectors made 10, 15 and 16 personnel changes in successive weeks. 'We're fairly happy if you look over the four games,' Erasmus said. 'We scored close to 50 points in each match and apart from the first Italy Test defended pretty well. 'Georgia were physical and disruptive but that's not an excuse for us making so many errors. But I guess we must understand that if we chop and change teams like we have as we're building squad depth, you'll lose rhythm.
