Pongia toughs it out

ESL club Wigan Warriors have revealed that their former Kiwi skipper Quentin Pongia has played the first three months of the season, despite suffering from the serious blood disease Hepatitis B.

Pongia has been undergoing treatment for the ailment, which is passed by blood-to-blood contact, since January.

The 33-year old prop has played in all 14 of Wigan's matches this season but the club deny a cover-up.

Club officials say they informed the Rugby Football League as soon as the disease was revealed but they were prevented by law from disclosing information.

Pongia, who discovered in January that he had contracted the ailment at birth, is on the road to making a full recovery.