Former Blues player Kurtis Haiu passes away

Former Blues lock Kurtis Haiu has died aged 31 after a battle with bone cancer.

Haiu, who represented New Zealand at under-19 and under-21 level, died in a Manurewa hospice.

Haiu made his professional rugby debut in the ITM Cup for Auckland in 20015 and went on to play 62 times for the club.

A year later he made his Blues debut against the Hurricanes, making 53 appearances in a six-year stint with the team.

In 2011 he was forced to retire from rugby after being diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer called Ewings Sarcoma.

Rest in Love Kurtis! You will always be remembered as someone who never gave up🙏🙏🙏🙏🏾🙏🏾😔😔🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🏾🙏🏾😔😔🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🏾🙏🏾😔😔🙏🙏🙏 #RIPKurtisHaiu pic.twitter.com/N8TfxTgBMN

— Junior Poluleuligaga (@JIP2EZY) April 13, 2016

Rest well my Brother, Much Love and Blessing 🙏🙏🙏🙏🏾🙏🏾😔😔🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🏾🙏🏾😔😔🙏🙏🙏🙏🏾🙏🙏🙏🙏🏾🙏🏾😔😔🙏🙏🙏🙏🏾🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🏾🙏🏾😔😔🙏🙏🙏🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🙏🙏🙏🏾🙏🏾😔😔🙏🙏🙏🙏🏾🙏🏾😔🙏🙏🙏🙏🏾🙏🏾😔😔🙏🙏🙏🙏🏾🙏🏾😔😔 pic.twitter.com/8jGokFJBSh

— keven_mealamu (@kevenmealamu) April 13, 2016

One of the most humble guys I've ever met gone to soon uso #RIP #sosad #KurtisHaiu pic.twitter.com/2evhTzAMXz

— Tim Nanai Williams (@Tim_Nwilliams) April 13, 2016

Images: Getty