Rugby young gun reveals how he beat cancer – and Wallabies World Cup hero Owen Finegan was part of the journey

A promising footballer from Sydney’s legendary Randwick rugby club has revealed how he tackled cancer after being diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of 11.

Hugo Kulcsar also inspired Wallabies legend Owen Finegan, who knew the young man personally through his own son.

Hugo, now 18, knew something was wrong when he felt a lump in the back of his head in June 2018.

When he had his blood tested a few days later, he fainted. Hugo was then told he had cancer.

“It was a complete shock to hear that news,” he said News Corp.

“My grandfather had it for 10 years and he died three years before I was diagnosed. So I knew what it can do to you.”

Chemotherapy followed, with serious side effects.

Among other things, they had a six-inch blood clot in his brain and third-degree burns on his hands.

Hugo Kulcsar inspired Wallabies great Owen Finegan, who knows the youngster personally after coaching his junior rugby team (pictured, in the 1999 World Cup final)

And now, in 2024, Hugo is cancer-free. He knows all too well that he is one of the lucky ones.

Finegan, who scored Australia’s last try in the 1999 World Cup final against France, is inspired by Hugo’s journey.

“I’m really proud of how resilient he is,” he said.

“He’s a great guy. In our sports world, he’s inspired others just by the perseverance he shows.

‘But also the attitude he has towards his teammates and what he has to offer teams.

“The community around him was behind him and supported him. And now he’s out there doing his thing and making others proud. It’s amazing.”

Hugo was also recently announced as an ambassador for the 2024 Better Challenge, which aims to raise money for young cancer patients.

The focus for participants is on 3 km of exercise per day during the month of September.