Josh & Bronwyn's nightmare 'OUR SECRET HEALTH BATTLE'

As the rugby hero puts his body to the test, his courageous wife faces challenges too

Whether it’s on the rugby field or in the tussle of a reality TV competition, former All Black Josh Kronfeld knows what it takes to win.

Once considered one of the best openside flankers in the world and the only person to win Celebrity Treasure Island twice, his body has paid the price. Past injuries, plus his wife Bronwyn facing her own health battle, meant that when he was offered the opportunity to compete for his third title on Treasure Island: Fans v Faves, he almost turned it down.

“I’ve got the ankles of an 80-year-old and arthritis,” tells the 51-year-old. “I can’t walk or run very well these days. I’ve never had an issue with ageing, but it’s a bit frustrating how your body slows down when you get older.”

While Bronwyn was also concerned about how his body would hold up, she knew how much he would thrive on the TVNZ 2 series. “I thought, ‘Are you going to be able to do that?’ But there was also a side of me that thought, ‘Josh really loves that competitive team environment,’ so I knew it would be nice for him to have that again. You’re only young, well 51-young, once!”

With added encouragement from his sons Cassius, 13, and Arlo, 10, and the prospect of a chance to win money for his chosen charity, Josh, who took out the 2004 and 2005 seasons of the show, eventually accepted the challenge.

“The kids were encouraging me,” he tells. “I don’t know whether it was good or bad

encouragement, but they were keen to see me do it. And my charity was a driving factor.”

While Josh has struggled with his ailing joints and the repercussions of multiple head