Jonah Lomu died of cardiac arrest

Jonah Lomu, former All Blacks rugby giant, died unexpectedly from a kidney disease in New Zealand on Wednesday after he returned home from a trip to Dubai.

“There are sports people around the world that transcend the game like Michael Jordan did in basketball which is what Jonah did in rugby”, Panoho said. My thoughts are with his family. “Going to miss you bro!”.

“RIP #NewZealand @AllBlacks rugby great Jonah Lomu who died 2day: legend. What a legacy he has left”.

A number of rugby league clubs in Australia posted tributes to Lomu, including Manly Sea Eagles.

Former Wales fly-half Jonathan Davies tweeted: “Can’t believe that Jonah Lomu has passed away”. What an wonderful athlete.

“Whether they play rugby or not doesn’t matter”.

Prime Minister John Key said Lomu had a real affection for the New Zealand people. The All Blacks player was considered by many to be rugby’s first global superstar. “I’d be sitting alongside pinching myself, thinking I’m beside Mick Jagger or something!”

“He was someone you would love your kids to look up to”, said the former Ireland captain.

“If anybody could lose their head you would nearly allow him to because of his stature in the game but he never did that, it was always team first and these are the things you remember and that you pass on”.

He started his career both with the ACT Brumbies and the Wallabies trying to find a way to bring down the 1.96-metre, 119-kilogram behemoth who revolutionised the game of rugby with his exploits in the 1995 World Cup in South Africa. “Defences had not seen anything like him before”.

“He was a unique player and his (highlights) clips have been used for 20 years”, Connolly said.

Dewi Morris witnessed Lomu’s staggering power first hand when the Kiwi winger ran in four tries against England in 1995 World Cup semi-final. “I want my boys to be healthy and if they get to 21, they should be fit and healthy and live a normal life”.

“If I met him on the street he’d still try and give me the shirt off his back, that’s the kind of guy he was”.

“No matter who you were he made time, no matter how busy he was he would have time for you and take the time to talk to you”.

The son of Tongan immigrants, Lomu made his Test debut in 1994 against France in Christchurch.

“It’s a big loss and especially with Jonah being so young”.

“Maybe he wasn’t at his peak then and he was coming back from his sickness, but he was still the same humble, down-to-earth guy that everyone respected”.

And Sale Sharks player Danny Cipriani said: “Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen are the reason I picked up a rugby ball – JL was a legend and a true inspiration who kept fighting”.

“Difficult to write with eyes full of tears on my eye tracker”.