Australia hooker Nathan Charles has spoken out about being born with and overcoming cystic fibrosis to pursue a successful rugby career . The 26-year-old , who has so far earned four international caps for the Wallabies and is in with an outside chance of making Michael Chieka 's World Cup squad later this year , took part in a promotional video as part of Nutri Grain 's # Unstoppable campaign . He spoke about his diagnosis with the life-threatening illness which affects the lungs , pancreas , liver , kidneys and intestine and how he used his love of sport as means of battling it . Australia hooker Nathan Charles has revealed his incredible battle with the disease cystic fibrosis . Charles took to rugby as a youngster as a way of battling with his illness and has since turned professional . Archived match footage from Charles ' school days at Knox Grammar School in Wahroonga shows him excelling at rugby from an early age . In a heartfelt interview , Charles sheds light on to the daily struggles he has to overcome , but insists that he is prepared to , because he wants to be defined by his abilities on the field and not by his condition . Typically , sufferers from cystic fibrosis are not expected to live beyond the age of 17 , but Charles has spent his entire life defying this disease . Charles spoke about the daily struggles that his illness presents , but insists he is prepared to work past them . Charles has earned four caps for Australia and will hope to make their World Cup squad later this year . Usually , cystic fibrosis sufferers do n't live past 17-years-old , but Charles , 26 , will not let his disease define him .
Australia hooker Nathan Charles was born with cystic fibrosis . The condition is a genetic disorder that causes the lungs to become filled with fluid, which can lead to life-threatening infections.