Jonah Lomu, All Blacks legend, dies aged 40

[Locutus]

Terrible news of Jonah Lomu’s passing, at only 40 years of age!

This was the moment [from 3:12 in the video], in a Rugby World Cup semi-final demolition of England, that he burst onto the world stage as somebody truly unique

Not PC: Jonah Lomu, 1975-2015

One of the finest rugby union players to have graced the game and a favourite son of New Zealand, Jonah Lomu, died unexpectedly overnight at the age of 40.

He had arrived back in Auckland from overseas on Tuesday.

The former All Blacks winger, whose imposing physique and often brutal running game provoked in opponents equal amounts of admiration and fear, had suffered from health problems since calling time on his playing career in 2002 due to a rare kidney disease, nephrotic syndrome. He underwent a kidney transplant in 2004 and had been on dialysis treatment for the past 10 years.


Details of the exact cause of his death remain unclear.


Jonah Lomu, All Blacks legend, dies aged 40 | Sport | The Guardian

 

[Blackleaf]

THE BEST OF JONAH LOMU

Just before this recent World Cup, Jonah Lomu's try in New Zealand's 45-29 victory over England at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town in the Semi-Final of the 1995 World Cup was voted the greatest try ever (it's just a shame it was against England) in MasterCard's Priceless Moments poll.

Lomu, who scored four tries in the match, picked up a loose pass out on the left, strolled past Will Carling, avoided the desperate attempted tap-tackle of Tony Underwood and, saving the best part to last, went straight through Mike Catt as if he were a cardboard cut-out.

Lomu barges past Mike Catt whilst scoring that try

The Greatest Moment in World Cup history was a close-run thing with Jonny Wilkinson’s heart-stopping winning drop goal for England in the 2003 final against Australia just edging out the symbolic handing of the Webb Ellis trophy to South Africa’s captain Francois Pienaar by Nelson Mandela in 1995.

Jonny Wilkinson's drop goal in the final moments of the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final against Australia in Sydney to win the tournament for England was voted the greatest moment in Rugby World Cup history

New Zealand’s 2011 Cup-winning side were voted “Best Team” with England’s 2003 collective second.

The England team which won the 2003 Rugby World Cup (above) in Australia were voted the second-best team ever after New Zealand's 2011 World Cup winners


Jonah Lomu effort against England tops poll for greatest Rugby World Cup try | Sport | The Guardian

 

[Blackleaf]

New Zealand has paid homage to former rugby union star Jonah Lomu with a special memorial service that included a rendition of the haka in Lomu's honour.

The service was held at the Eden Park National Stadium in Auckland and the traditional Maori dance was performed as Lomu's casket was carried out.

Jonah Lomu's memorial service haka: New Zealand remembers the former All Blacks star

A special performance of the haka formed part of the memorial service for Jonah Lomu at Eden Park National Stadium


By Sean Gibson, video source APTN
30 Nov 2015
The Telegraph

3 Comments

New Zealand has paid homage to former rugby union star Jonah Lomu with a special memorial service that included a rendition of the haka in Lomu's honour.

The service was held at the Eden Park National Stadium in Auckland and the traditional Maori dance was performed as Lomu's casket was carried out.

His former All Blacks team-mate Eric Rush gave a touching speech at the service:

Lomu, who is of Tongan descent, is remembered as a giant of the modern game and one of the superstars who led rugby union from an amateur to a professional game.

The former All Black died of a heart attack at the age of 40 earlier this month, after a lengthy battle with nephrotic syndrome that had curtailed his rugby career.

The service began with a traditional haka and powhiri, or welcome, performed by indiginous Maori representatives of Auckland's Ngati Whatua people, and was attended both by former club and national teammates as well as erstwhile rivals from overseas.

Lomu's pallbearers included former New Zealand players Michael Jones, Dylan Mika, Frank Bunce, Joeli Vidiri and Jerome Kaino.

Lomu became the youngest-ever All Black on his 1994 debut, before bursting into the public consciousness as a 19-year-old at the 1995 World Cup.

There he scored seven tries, famously including four against England in the semi-final, as New Zealand finished runners-up to hosts South Africa.

He won 63 international caps and played for numerous clubs in his homeland, in addition to a spell with Cardiff Blues in the latter days of his career.

Lomu was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007, and the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011.

A private funeral will be held on Tuesday at Lomu's home in the city.

Go here for a Jonah Lomu timeline: Video: Watch: Jonah Lomu's memorial service haka - Telegraph

 

[Walter]

Did he take any stereos?