Rugby player facing new cancer fight just days after all-clear

A POPULAR young rugby player has been told his cancer is back just days after he celebrated being cancer-free with all his teammates.

- ELLIE GOSLEY

Ethan Griffiths and his family received the devastating news in January that he had been diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphoma, a fast-growing form of cancer.

However, after months of intensive chemotherapy and hospital stays, the 14-year-old finally received the news he was waiting for - he was cancer-free and got to ring the bell to mark the end of his treatment.

On Friday, May 29, Ethan celebrated with his teammates at Bridgend Athletic REC’s annual presentation, where he was presented with a bell he could proudly ring in front of his friends.

But on the Sunday he found himself feeling unwell again and ended up in hospital, where he and his family were told the heartbreaking news that the cancer had returned.

His dad, Lloyd, said the family from Maesteg have been trying to come to terms with the “pain and grief” brought by the horrendous news as they support Ethan through another battle.

Lloyd said Ethan, despite being the “baby of the family”, is a “6ft warrior” who has been determined to beat cancer and get back playing sports with his friends since the moment he was diagnosed.

“He's a very good rugby player and is just a really nice kid. It’s such a cruel world that he’s having to go through this - let alone twice.”

As well as playing number eight for Bridgend Athletic, Ethan is also the striker for Llangynwyd Rangers and, despite only being able to play for two months this season, he was still the club’s third-top goal-scorer.

Ethan is currently in hospital in Bristol where doctors hope he will soon be well enough to take part in a clinical trial that could help get rid of the disease for good.