Jonah Lomu passes away

[Dave Cahill]

All Blacks star Jonah Lomu has died aged 40

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/ar ... d=11547393

1:04 PM Wednesday Nov 18, 2015

Rotorua Daily Post Rugby
Jonah Lomu has died aged 40. Photo / Getty Images

All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu has passed away in Auckland today at the age of 40.

Former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew confirmed Lomu had died unexpectedly this morning.

The All Blacks great was still suffering from the rare kidney disorder known as nephrotic syndrome that began to make itself apparent even when he was making global headlines steamrolling England into submission at the 1995 Rugby World Cup and afterwards.

Lomu had a kidney transplant in 2004 which assisted his battle for seven and a half years. But his body rejected the replacement organ in 2011.

He had recently been in England for the with his family as a spokesman for Heineken during the Rugby World Cup.

Lomu made 73 appearances for the All Blacks, making his Test debut in 1994 against France in Christchurch.


Lomu scored 43 tries in the black jersey, before having to quit the sport in 2002 because of Nephrotic syndrome, a rare kidney disease.

He suffered a health scare in 2011, pulling out of the Fight for Life charity boxing event with kidney troubles, just seven years after his life-saving kidney transplant.

Lomu spent the last couple of months touring the UK with his family for the Rugby World Cup.

"By the end of it I'll have learnt the ins and outs of every clinic in the country," he joked to the London Telegraph.

"I am thankful that I have a beautiful wife and the kids are here. Nadine makes sure that my family stays together.

"She is my manager, my wife, my best friend and my boss!"

He hoped that his children would get a special insight into the game where their father made his name.

"It's a game that has given me so much and it's an opportunity to show them what their dad used to do," he told the Daily Express. "They love their rugby."

[enby]

that is terribly sad. 40 is way too young. Definitely one of the all time greats

[JohnB]

Jona Lomu has died much too young. What a player he was at the height of his abilities and youth! How sad for his family.

[RoboProp]

f%~k this is a tough one, we just lost my father this day last week. Dad lived in NZ for a few years, he always loved the ABs, and especially big Jonah. Dad always wanted me to play IC and always cited Jonah as an example of how the Kiwis didn't select players like we did. I know my dad'll greet him at the Gates with a bit of "Ka Mate". RIP big man.

[simonokeeffe]

first legend of the pro era and probably the first world famous rugby player, a giant in all respetcs

[CiaranIrl]

f%~k this is a tough one, we just lost my father this day last week. Dad lived in NZ for a few years, he always loved the ABs, and especially big Jonah. Dad always wanted me to play IC and always cited Jonah as an example of how the Kiwis didn't select players like we did. I know my dad'll greet him at the Gates with a bit of "Ka Mate". RIP big man.

Really sorry to hear that. My condolences to you and your family.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Gutted about this. An awful lot of people my age first picked up a ball because of him, and wanted to be him. People say he's the first rugby superstar and I'd go further and say he's the only one. There's often hyperbole when someone dies but I'm really not sure that we'll see someone like him again, and he's had more of an impact on the game than anyone else IMO. The weird thing is I only saw him play for a couple of years, which was probably only a handful of games really, yet knew all about him and the aura he carried. Can't remember what age I was when I first tried the Internet, but not having a clue what to look up, he was the first person I ever searched for.

Just a fascinating guy for so many reasons. His tribute videos were a constant source of entertainment during study breaks over the years and will continue to enthral for years to come. Amazing man and he's one guy I wish I'd been able to meet and just say thank you. RIP.

[simonokeeffe]

Anyone remember the Babas Ireland game he played in in Dublin and no one would pass to him?

[hugonaut]

Bunked off school in November 1996 to go and see the All Blacks train in UCD one afternoon – basically to see Lomu in the flesh. He was a phenomenon as a player, still remember the big 'Woah!' from a everyone watching as he did this drill running through forwards with crash pads and sending them flying – Sean Fitz, Craig Dowd and all.

Seemed like an absolutely lovely fellah and somehow managed to stay very positive through what must have been a very debilitating long term illness. He was seriously loved amongst rugby fans. So sad that he died so young. Rest in peace.

[Donny B.]

Horrible news to wake up to.

I remember seeing him first in the World Cup in '95 and the sheer excitement every time he touched the ball. His performance against England was a genuine landmark day for the game. If he hasn't has the kidney disease he probably would have set records that would never have been broken. I'm honoured I got to see watch him play in Lansdowne Park first for the Barbarian and then for the All Blacks.

Seemed to be a gracious, humble bloke off the field too.

He broke the mold and brought rugby union to places and people it had never reached before.

RIP

[jezzer]

He was the reason we didn't break the duck against NZ in the Gatty years. We had them on the rack and Jonah bailed them out, iirc. It was so UNFAIR, y'know? How ta feck are you supposed to stop the guy?!!

He was rugby's Muhammed Ali, debilitating illness and all. But he had to deal with his while he was still at the top level of the sport. Frightening to think of the potential if he had two perfect kidneys. But, like Ali, he's a guy who transformed people's perception of how the game was played.

Very sad for anyone's life to end so soon, especially a family man and - by all accounts - a real gentleman.

Robocop, very sorry for your troubles. I dread losing a parent, dread it. So I'm sure you're having a very tough time and hang in there, buddy.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Looking at some of the footage, it's still amazing to see some of the world's best players struggling to get their arms around one of his legs. As incredible as his power and pace were, his step was brilliant.

[RoboProp]

He was the reason we didn't break the duck against NZ in the Gatty years. We had them on the rack and Jonah bailed them out, iirc. It was so UNFAIR, y'know? How ta feck are you supposed to stop the guy?!!

He was rugby's Muhammed Ali, debilitating illness and all. But he had to deal with his while he was still at the top level of the sport. Frightening to think of the potential if he had two perfect kidneys. But, like Ali, he's a guy who transformed people's perception of how the game was played.

Very sad for anyone's life to end so soon, especially a family man and - by all accounts - a real gentleman.

Robocop, very sorry for your troubles. I dread losing a parent, dread it. So I'm sure you're having a very tough time and hang in there, buddy.

Thanks Jezz and Ciaran. Rugby was dad and my thing. He rarely missed one of my matches, even though I was mortified at the time. He was a true blue, brought me to Leinster Vs New Zealand in 1989. I miss him immensely, he was my mate

[Xanthippe]

f%~k this is a tough one, we just lost my father this day last week. Dad lived in NZ for a few years, he always loved the ABs, and especially big Jonah. Dad always wanted me to play IC and always cited Jonah as an example of how the Kiwis didn't select players like we did. I know my dad'll greet him at the Gates with a bit of "Ka Mate". RIP big man.

Just seeing this now - I'm so very sorry for your loss RP.

[waterboy]

I remember sitting in a boozer after sitting my first year college exams to watch the Ireland match in the world cup and spent most of it screaming at the tv as Irish lads just bounced off him or and made despairing efforts to pull him down. He destroyed us that day and its still my abiding memory of him. It was with a rue smile that I watched him then do the same to the english a few weeks later.



As someone else posted earlier I think he's still the only genuinely world star the game has ever seen. He transcended the sport and a gent by all accounts.



Such a shame to see one of the good ones go so soon