Jonah Lomu’s former school say farewell with spine-tingling haka

“We had exciting times together and I will treasure his memory always”.

The year after that Lomu revealed he needed a transplant.

As well as playing for several domestic teams in his homeland, he made 10 appearances for Cardiff Blues in Wales between 2005 and 2006, shortly before his retirement.

“When you think of the World Cup you will always go back to Jonah running round or over opponents”.

However, he continued to star for the All Blacks wherever the game took him, his raw power on the pitch in total contrast to his gentle, placid nature away from battle on the field.

Before his death, Lomu had been in Britain for promotional work linked to the recently completed World Cup, won by his beloved All Blacks.

“He looked the best I’d seen him in many years. He had that sparkle and look of life in his face”, Gregan said.

England attack coach Mike Catt, famously trampled over by Lomu during the 1995 Rugby World Cup semi-final, told englandrugby.com: “I’m massively sad but the legacy he’s left is incredible”. Subsequent surgery ruled him out of playing for North Harbour in New Zealand’s provincial championship. We send our condolences to his rugby home the All Blacks, to his family and friends and to all rugby loving people.

Former All Blacks lock Robin Brooke says he feels privileged that he played most of his rugby career with Jonah Lomu.

“There will never be another Jonah Lomu”.

In 2011, Lomu was unveiled as one of the high-profile competitors for the charity boxing event Fight For Life, which was to pit past and present rugby union and league stars against each other in early December.

“Jonah’s legacy will live forever in our game, and indeed all over the world”.

Lomu’s death was confirmed by New Zealand Rugby, whose chief Steve Tew said: “Jonah was a legend of our game and loved by his many fans both here and around the world”.

“Jonah Lomu was a legend of the game here and the general shock of his passing his affected everybody, not just former players and current players but the general public”.

Rugby Union: A sneak preview of the documentary ‘Jonah Lomu? Back to South Africa?.

The sportsman became an overnight sensation in 1994 when, at 19, he became became the youngest person to play in an All Blacks Test when he took the field against France for his debut.

Reportedly considered offers from National Football League teams after the World Cup, but signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union as the game went professional.

He scored 37 tries for New Zealand and shares the World Cup try-scoring record with Bryan Habana with 15.

In 1996, he was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease which cut his career short and meant he had to have a kidney transplant on 2004.

He received regular dialysis treatment to help deal with his kidney issues.