When Lui Te’o was injured playing rugby on Friday 11 March at the Marist Rugby Club at Auckland his future suddenly became uncertain. Uncertainty around the level of spinal cord damage led to uncertainty to as to the level of mobility Lui would regain.

Immediate scans at Middlemore Hospital were inconclusive, though they did reveal no severing of the spinal cord there was severe damage through compression. No diagnosis could confidently conclude whether or not Lui would walk again.

After 3 months of intensive rehabilitation, mental and physical therapy Lui Teo and his family walked in with 527 other people to Eden Park for the NZ Rugby Foundation’s annual Pre Test Fundraising luncheon.

28 other VIP (very injured players) were in attendance with their care-givers, along with NZRF board members, All Blacks, NZR and WRU delegates, corporate guests and various rugby alumni.

“We were so happy for Lui’s family to be able to join us” said NZRF CEO Lisa Kingi-Bon. “One of the great intangibles we can provide is the network to other injured players. Whilst we partner closely with our VIP for life, there are experiences they go through that only other VIP would understand.”

Lui was accompanied at the event by his father (former Samoan Rep Aleki Teo) as well as his Occupational Therapist Sheila, and physiotherapists Jess and Joe.

He even got to meet his favourite All Black and boyhood hero Keven Mealamu, the highlight of his day though was”just to be able to stand again.”