When the great Jonah Lomu came to town

Lomu died suddenly on Wednesday. He scored 37 tries in 63 Tests for the All Blacks, CNN reported.

It was Lomu’s extraordinary rugby skills that caught the eye in those early days, but it was his battle against a debilitating kidney disease and subsequent transplant that made him an inspiration around the globe.

Lomu lived and breathed rugby.

“While we grieve for a husband, father, son, brother and good mate, we know that many people in New Zealand and around the world are mourning a very special individual”.

You always had excitement and nerves before facing the All Blacks but there were definitely more when Jonah was in the side, knowing at a few stage you might have to tackle him.

Mangere MP Su’a William Sio, paid tribute to Lomu’s mother Hepi, who had joined family for the celebrations.

Standing at over six feet five inches tall and weighing about 125 kilos, he was a super sized rugby player and what makes it all the more frightening is the fact that he played the majority of his career on the wing, where we were not used to seeing men of his speed and size perform.

WHAT a time for New Zealand especially, with conflicting emotions surrounding its national sport of rugby. A sporting hero and one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet. “He’s an excellent player”, but a family connection has since been found. Jonah you will be missed…

The messages of support and prayers to the family of Lomu also came pouring from all over the world.

Sevens World Cup victor Jope Tuikabe says the passing of All Blacks rugby legend Jonah Lomu is a great loss to world rugby.

In this July 23, 2015 photo, former rugby player Jonah Lomu has a laugh while attending a New Zealand Media and Entertainment function in Auckland, New Zealand. When I reached the village than one of my cousin was telling me that did you hear about the bad news? “Those were enjoyable times”, he said. It’s really sad to see him go.

“Jonah was our much-admired son, loved, dedicated and supremely gifted rugby union superstar who fulfilled his enormous talent with perfection”. He came closest to breaking this losing run in the first match, when Ireland led well into the second-half during McCaw’s debut in 2001 and the last, when the All Blacks astonishing last-gasp score at Lansdowne Road in 2013 rescued both their all-time unbeaten record against the Irish and their “perfect year”.

Aged only 40, Lomu had made a huge impact on the sport when he shot to fame in the 1995 Rugby World Cup and he will be remembered for his four-try demolition of England in the semi-final when he famously trampled all over full-back Matt Catt on the way to the try-line.