Jonah Lomu: All Blacks legend dies aged 40
Jonny Wilkinson joins rugby stars past and present in paying tribute to a 'fabulous human being'
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Your support makes all the difference.New Zealand rugby union legend Jonah Lomu has died at the age of 40.
The winger, who scored 37 tries in 63 caps for the All Blacks, had suffered from health problems since nephrotic syndrome, a rare degenerative kidney disease, forced him to bow out of international rugby in 2002.
"Jonah was a legend of our game and loved by his many fans both here and around the world," New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said. "We're lost for words. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Jonah's family."
Stars past and present from within the sport have paid tribute to a figure considered rugby union's first superstar, with Jonny Wilkinson describing his former opponent as a "fabulous human being".
John Key, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, also offered his condolences to Lomu's family:
After starring for New Zealand’s under-19s and sevens sides Lomu burst onto the global stage as a late selection for the 1995 World Cup with just two senior caps to his name.
The 20-year-old, six-foot-four wing scored seven tries in five appearances at the tournament, four of them coming in the All Blacks’ 45-29 semi-final victory over England. Lomu’s opening try in that win – gathering a loose ball before comfortably outstripping Will Carling and walking straight over Mike Catt – was voted the greatest in World Cup history earlier this year.
New Zealand lost the final 15-12 to the hosts South Africa, and Lomu was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome at the end of that year. He went on to miss almost the entire 1997 season, but returned to win a sevens gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
By the 1999 World Cup in England he was back to his best. Lomu scored eight tries to take his total in World Cups to 15, a record only equalled by South Africa’s Bryan Habana during this year’s tournament.
The final World Cup appearance of his career came in the All Blacks’ 43-31 semi-final defeat against France, Lomu starring with two superb individual tries.
During his domestic career in New Zealand Lomu played for the Auckland Blues, Chiefs and Hurricanes in Super Rugby.
He underwent a kidney transplant in 2004, which left him requiring dialysis three times a week, but played 10 matches for the Cardiff Blues after mounting a comeback in the 2005-6 season.
Lomu retired from professional rugby in 2007, the year that he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.
Although he was awaiting another kidney transplant and further dialysis treatment following commercial work at this year's World Cup, the former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew said his death was unexpected.
"The family are obviously devastated, as are friends and acquaintances," Mayhew told TV3.
"It was totally unexpected. Jonah and his family arrived back from the United Kingdom last night and he suddenly died this morning."
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