ARCH rivals on the field they may be, but Saints and Wigan have rallied quickly to the aid of a recently-married star of both clubs whose career has been shattered by devastating illness. For 25-year-old scrum-half-cum-hooker Augustine O'Donnell has been told by doctors that he has suffered double kidney failure and, following hospital treatment, is now receiving self-administered dialysis four times a day, seven days per week

But the vital life-saving equipment is only on loan from Liverpool Royal Hospital and players, officials and supporters from Knowsley Road and Central Park, along with many other organisations, have committed themselves to raising the £8,000 needed to buy Gus a state-of-the-art in-house machine.

Said Saints' chief executive David Howes: "When the life of one of its members is threatened, the family of Rugby League responds immediately, and that will certainly be the case with Gus O'Donnell, who joined us from Wigan in 1992 and was on our books until being transfered to Chorley in the autumn.

"Saints will be fully represented at a sportsman's dinner at The Laurels club, Wigan, on Tuesday, March 26; a donation will be made from the proceeds of a sporting forum with Radio Merseyside on Monday, March 25, and a collection will be taken at the Saints-Wigan game on Good Friday," added Mr Howes.

St Helens Schools RL committee official Roger Grime has also pledged the backing of his members, as has Wigan-based Joseph Pey who has enlisted the aid of former Central Park heroes such as Shaun Wane, Joe Lydon and Graham West.

Anyone requiring further details can contact Saints on St Helens 23697, Mr Grime on 734495, or Mr Pey on 01942 742327.

A great friend of Chris Joynt, Dave Lyon and Gary Connolly and also known on the Rugby League circuit as 'Ducky', former schoolboy international O'Donnell spent five seasons at Central Park, and now lives in the Springfield area of Wigan with his wife Margaret. Gus made 49 first team appearances at Knowsley Road in which he became known as the 'drop-goal king' with 20 successes, including two when Saints defeated his old club Wigan in the Premiership Final at Old Trafford in 1993.

A rare blood disorder then sidelined him for several months but, after lengthy medication, Gus was given the go-ahead to resume playing and Saints allowed him to play on loan for Keighley, Huddersfield and Chorley.

However, he returned to Knowsley Road, and appeared in the Alliance side in September but, after experiencing breathing difficulties and general lack of well-being, was admitted to the Royal Hospital after Christmas for tests before consultants broke the shock news.

O'Donnell was detained because it was felt that he would otherwise die without dialysis and spent the next month on a 'DIY' course, in which he became fully acquainted with the life-saving device before returning home in the hope of a transplant operation if a suitable donor can be found.

Said dauntless, determined 'Ducky': "Both Margaret and I were very depressed when we told what was wrong and at first I was inclined to ask 'why me?' But I now realise it is up to me to get on with my life and have enrolled on a sporting therapy course at Leigh College.

"However, there is a bright side to all this in the caring way that my family and friends have offered support, including everyone connected with this great game of Rugby League, the Saints and Wigan clubs in particular."

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