\u201cHe will need a stem cell transplant which we process to go through. It\u2019s a needle in the haystack because a lot of it is based upon heritage,\u201d dad Robert Law said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy wife is Chinese descent, I\u2019m of an English-Scottish descent so it\u2019s got to be somewhat of a mixed.\u201d<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve been searching for a donor ever since with his teammates at the University of Queensland rallying behind him, swapping their scrums for swabs in a donor drive.<\/p>\n
\u201cRowan\u2019s one of our own so it\u2019s really good to support him. No real excuse not to. I think everyone here wants to help each other,\u201d classmate Xavier Granbower said.<\/p>\n
![\"Rowan](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/109de00dd565d22bf64c8f63dcc73a9bf87d9b08.png\")
Rowan was diagnosed straight out of high school. Credit: 7NEWS![\"He](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/7d7b1e30a930a3dfd633b0fe88bc7b1e1ceaaef6.png\")
He now watches rugby from the sidelines. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n
The search has extended beyond the rugby field, with Rowan\u2019s mother Bronwyn recruiting potential donors at Suncorp Stadium ahead of the Dolphins and Broncos clash.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Dolphins have been so supportive. They\u2019ve actually sent a text to every one of their members letting them know that we\u2019re here and happy to register them,\u201d Bronwyn Tong said.<\/p>\n
The response from the community has been encouraging, with supporters coming forward to register as potential donors.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was posting a lot about it so, yeah, we thought we\u2019d come down and give it a go,\u201d one person said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to donate because people do need these treatments and things like that,\u201d another person said.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f65242c5ae39c809af59e8e8ea8ffe702d5b1a80.jpg\")
The search extended outside the Dolphins and Broncos clash. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n
The need is urgent. Currently, 248 people in Queensland are searching for a donor, with the nationwide demand sitting at 1300.<\/p>\n
Medical teams are now pushing for a national strategy to better match donors with those in desperate need.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are seeing more and more people that need stem cell transplants and that is increasing and so we really need to also increase the number of people on the registry,\u201d Lifesaving List founder Josephine O\u2019Brien said.<\/p>\n
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