![]() ![]() The Haʻapai Islands, Tonga, where Lomu's parents emigrated from and where he spent parts of his childhood. The New Zealand Parliament passed a national motion in honour of his life. His passing saw widespread tributes to him and his family, from Queen Elizabeth II to a haka performed by the pupils of his boyhood primary school. The cause was a heart attack associated with his kidney condition. His illness forced his retirement from professional rugby in 2007 at the age of 32.Īfter returning from abroad, Lomu died unexpectedly on 18 November 2015 at home in Auckland. These included the Auckland Blues, Chiefs and Hurricanes, and Counties Manukau, Wellington, and later North Harbour and the Cardiff Blues. Lomu played for several domestic New Zealand provincial or Super Rugby sides, and late in his career played club rugby in both Wales and France. After a period of hiatus, he returned to play domestically rather than internationally. He turned his energy to being a Kidney Kids NZ ambassador, encouraging children with similar afflictions to seek treatment. ![]() By 2003 he was on dialysis, and in 2004 underwent a kidney transplant that saved his life. In 1995 he was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, a serious genetic kidney disorder, and the disease had a significant impact on his playing career and wider life. He used his celebrity to support Pasifika community efforts and charities such as UNICEF, and often paid bills for his childhood friends in Māngere. Lomu was known for his humility, gentle nature, and passion. He was appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby, in the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours. ![]() Lomu's innovative position as a physically large winger was highly influential for his impact on the gameplay of rugby union itself, he has been compared with Muhammad Ali, Don Bradman and Tiger Woods in their respective fields. His performance at that Rugby World Cup and others that followed established him as "rugby union's biggest drawcard", just as the game turned fully professional, with him swelling attendances at any match where he appeared. Īt the height of his fame in the mid-1990s, Lomu became a globally recognised cultural icon of South Auckland and its Pasifika community. He shares with South African Bryan Habana the Rugby World Cup all-time try scoring record of 15, which he accumulated in only two tournaments. In the semi-final he famously bulldozed several players and ran straight over the top of full-back Mike Catt, establishing him as one of the most talented young players of his generation. He was acknowledged as the top player at the 1995 World Cup for his acclaimed 4-try performance in the semi-final against England, even though New Zealand lost the final to the host South Africa. He burst onto the international rugby scene during the 1994 Hong Kong Sevens tournament, the same year he made his fifteen-a-side debut. Attending Wesley College, he excelled in athletics and both rugby codes before pursuing a professional career. His childhood in Auckland was marked by local gang violence, and his mother nurtured his interest in sport. īorn in Pukekohe to Tongan immigrants from Haʻapai, Lomu grew up between rural Tonga and South Auckland. Lomu was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame on 9 October 2007, and the IRB Hall of Fame on 24 October 2011. Playing on the wing, Lomu finished his international career with 63 caps and 37 tries. He became the youngest ever All Black when he played his first international in 1994 at the age of 19 years and 45 days. For his fast and effortless style of play, Lomu was once nicknamed the "freight train in ballet shoes", and was celebrated for his ability to shrug off tackles from multiple opponents at once. Exceptionally large for a wing player, he is also known as the first winger to be a physical heavyweight. Standing 6 foot 5 inches and weighing 119 kilograms, Lomu was famed for his unprecedented speed, strength and agility. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential players in the history of the sport, and as one of the most talented sportsmen ever. Lomu is considered to have been the first true global superstar of rugby, and consequently had a huge impact on the game. Jonah Tali Lomu MNZM ( – 18 November 2015) was a New Zealand professional rugby union player. ![]()
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