Tonight on Newshub, we shared Daniel's remarkable story, a story that has already changed not just his life but the lives of others.

It has also turned him from a player who was unwanted at some rugby clubs into the toast of Bay of Plenty rugby.

When Daniel went to Bay of Plenty training this week, it was the players asking about his game.

If you love rugby and the Steamers as much Daniel does, this is pretty much as good as it gets.

What Daniel dreamed about most was playing for the Bay, but the reality is that he shouldn't be able to play at all.

Daniel has autism, and also a genetic disorder called Prader-Willi syndrome, which among other things weakens muscles, meaning contact sport is out of the question.

"When I know he's going on the field I get anxious and wonder what's going to happen to him," says mum Andrea Sinden. "No way could I stop him."

Nothing could stop him, even being mocked and made unwelcome at other clubs.

"He just becomes the butt of jokes, and that just isn't fair," says sister Alecia Cox.

Then Daniel met Ati Aaifou-Olive at the Tauranga Sports Club.

"There was something about him that just wanted to know more about you," says Aaifou-Olive.

When he heard Daniel's dream to wear those blue and gold hoops, he invited him to play for Bay of Plenty Samoa. He was at every training, and then last weekend he was called on late in the game against Waikato Samoa.

"Just seeing him come on to the field, because the chest was out, his head was up - the little scuff ran as he ran into position," says Bay of Plenty Samoa assistant coach Murphy Taele.

In the last play of the match, both teams gave Daniel his chance to shine.

"It's all down to my footwork at the end of the day," says Daniel. "I quite comfortably took that gap."

But for the conversion, he was all on his own.

Daniel's refusal to give up in spite of everything had a profound effect on one of his teammates.

"He said Ati, 'This is my son. He is autistic as well.' I think Daniel didn't know that he's inspired him to introduce his son to us."

Daniel's try didn't win the match, but after years of being left out he won something much, much greater.

"I think I've finally found family," says Daniel. "I think I've finally found family."

Newshub.