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Piri Weepu won 71 international caps representing the fearsome New Zealand rugby team. He was as much loved by players, as coaches and the fans. The a year ago he suffered a stroke and discovered he had a hole in his heart. For many that would have meant an end to normal life let alone a career in rugby... but Piri is made of tougher stuff than that, he's not only recovered he's made a successful return to elite level rugby with London Welsh in the English Premiership. He's been telling the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's Chris Jones about how he continued playing before the full extent of his illness became known.

PHOTO: Piri Weepu of the All Blacks performs the Haka during quarter final four of the 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup (CREDIT: Hannah Peters-Pool/Getty Images)