THE FIRST GLOBAL superstar of rugby union, former All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu, has died suddenly at the age of 40.
In a statement, former New Zealand team doctor John Mayhew confirmed that Lomu, one of the game’s all-time greats, had died suddenly in Auckland on Wednesday morning.
On behalf of the Lomu family, I can confirm that Jonah Lomu died this morning, most probably about 8 or 9 this morning.
The family are obviously devastated, as are friends and acquaintances.
The family have requested privacy at this stage, they are obviously going through a terrible time.
It was totally unexpected. Jonah and his family arrived back from the United Kingdom last night and he suddenly died this morning.
As a 19-year-old, he made a name for himself in rugby circles during the 1994 Hong Kong Sevens, helping New Zealand win the tournament.
The following year, he burst on to the scene of world rugby at the 1995 World Cup, scoring seven tries in five matches, including four against England in the semi-final, and two against Ireland.
At 6’5″, and almost 19 stone, his blistering speed, physical power and ability to break tackle after tackle made him an overnight sensation, and garnered global attention, beyond the rugby world.
In all, Lomu scored 37 tries in 63 senior appearances for New Zealand, in a career that began in 1994, but faded under the effects of nephrotic syndrome – a kidney disorder that required regular medical treatment and dialysis.
In later years, he attempted comebacks, playing briefly for the Cardiff Blues in 2006, and Marseille, in 2010, in the French third division.
He holds the joint record for most tries scored in the Rugby World Cup, with 15, a number equalled by South Africa’s Bryan Habana during the 2015 competition last month.
Legends of the game, past and present, have been paying tribute to Lomu this morning, including Dan Carter and Jonny Wilkinson, the top two points scorers of all time.
Sean Fitzpatrick, All Blacks hooker and Lomu’s captain at the ’95 World Cup, called him a “very special person.”
And the country’s Prime Minister, John Key, said he was “deeply saddened” by Lomu’s death.
French captain Thierry Dusautoir said Lomu “inspired a generation of rugby players.”
While Australia’s Tim Horan, one of the greatest centres of all time, and a regular opponent of Lomu, perhaps said it best:
In August, Lomu’s try against England in the 1995 World Cup semi-final was voted the greatest of all time in a worldwide poll.
