Never really paid attention to rugby but always heard about him on the news and I remember he had a game named after him. Such a young age, thoughts go to his family and friends, RIP.
Jonah Lomu dies aged 40 years old
- Thread starter Tommy
- Start date
Devastating news, can't believe it. One of my absolute sporting idols, beast of a man and one of the biggest sportstars of the 90s like Woods and Jordan and fenomeno.
Still in shock. . RIP big man, what an awful week.
Still in shock. . RIP big man, what an awful week.
Shit news to wake up to! One of rugby's all time greats. Thoughts with his family and friends. RIP Jonah. 
Sad news.
I am the same, RIP.
Shocking news. Not a big follower of rugby but I remember the 95 World cup and the England game where he made players like Underwood,Carling and Catt look like schoolboys. Size,power ,pace he had it all .The ultimate athlete . RlP Jonah .A true rugby superstar.
he was an 18 stone winger ffs a rugby phenomenon who changed the game forever
think he was diagnosed in 96 but i'm sure i saw an interviewfrom him that he was suffering issues even during the 95 world cup where he was beating teams up - just imagine what he could have done healthy! that he's fought this long is a great credit to him but incredibly sad that he's now passed
think he was diagnosed in 96 but i'm sure i saw an interviewfrom him that he was suffering issues even during the 95 world cup where he was beating teams up - just imagine what he could have done healthy! that he's fought this long is a great credit to him but incredibly sad that he's now passed
Gutting news for any sports fan. A true legend of sport even if rugby isn't your first choice. A fantastic player and by all accounts fantastic bloke too.
RIP Jonah.
RIP Jonah.
A genuine superstar of his sport, and insanely humble despite that status.
Probably the best to ever play the game. And recognised as such. Imagine how much more he may have achieved if he hadn't been forced to retire so young. Or if he hadn't been battling his illness his whole career. 6 foot 5, 18 stone and could run the 100 metres in 11 seconds. An absolute beast.
RiP.
Loved watching him, kinda like watching Messi/Ronaldinho etc.
Absolute legend and gent off the field too.
Loved watching him, kinda like watching Messi/Ronaldinho etc.
Absolute legend and gent off the field too.
You can crush everyone on the field, but life can always do that to you as well, so sad. He said in the summer the only thing he wants in life now is to see his sons become 21. They are 5 and 6 now...
I don't watch rugby but I was well aware of this legend. I even bought a rugby game to play as him on the PS1 I think it was. Sad loss. R.I.P
He was amongst the main reasons I ever watched rugby growing up
RIP Lomu
RIP Lomu
Yup - his last wish or aim in life was to watch his kids grow up.
There are similar players with his combination of size and speed now, but when he burst onto the scene - it was him and him only.
Great player and equally great person.
RIP Big Fella
Heartbreaking news this.
I remember the first time I saw him play in the 1995 World Cup. Just unbelievable, he had everything. Everyone remembers his power and pace, but he had fantastic hands (there's a brilliant try against France with a sensational low pick up, worthy of someone like Phillipe Sella, followed by him crossing the line with 3 French players hanging on to him). Seeing him for the first time was just like seeing Ronaldo when he was at PSV or Barcelona - you knew you were watching the most special talent on the planet.
Easily one of my all time favourite sportsmen.
Seemed like a wonderful man as well.
I remember the first time I saw him play in the 1995 World Cup. Just unbelievable, he had everything. Everyone remembers his power and pace, but he had fantastic hands (there's a brilliant try against France with a sensational low pick up, worthy of someone like Phillipe Sella, followed by him crossing the line with 3 French players hanging on to him). Seeing him for the first time was just like seeing Ronaldo when he was at PSV or Barcelona - you knew you were watching the most special talent on the planet.
Easily one of my all time favourite sportsmen.
Seemed like a wonderful man as well.
To a 9 year old who weighed less than the soggy rugby jersey on his back, Jonah was like some sort of super human rugby god.
He is to rugby what Pele and Maradona are to football or Ali is to boxing. Will be one of the first names mentioned for as long as people are talking about the sport.
He is to rugby what Pele and Maradona are to football or Ali is to boxing. Will be one of the first names mentioned for as long as people are talking about the sport.
I'll always remember watching open mouthed as he tore through England. I wasn't (and still aren't) that interested in rugby, but even I knew he was something special.
R.I.P.
R.I.P.
Lomu walking right through Mike Catt will always remain one of my most vivid sporting memories. RIP Jonah
The best, transcended the sport, unbelievable. I saw him a couple of times on the TV throughout the world cup and by all accounts he was in good health. He was a force of nature on the pitch, just a monster even while playing with serious health issues. He always seemed like a good bloke off the pitch too. The excitement when he signed to play for the Blues was mental despite coming at the end of his career, I wish I could have seen him in his prime. Such a shame, 40 ffs. RIP Legend.
He was my childhood hero along with Andrew Mehrtens. I remember being a little kid back in '95 and meeting the All Blacks in Auckland and getting their autographs. The crowd around Jonah Lomu was five times as big as the rest, even though this was before he completely killed it at that year's World Cup. Me and my dad patiently waited our turn despite the chaos, my dad arguably more excited than I was at meeting him.
Absolute monster of a player. Extremely sad to see him go so soon. Puts things into perspective when a guy who could rampage through an entire team in arguably the most physically demanding sport on Earth gets taken down by a disease at such an early age. Thoughts go to his loved ones too. His kids are way too young to lose their dad
Rest in peace, Jonah. Best rugby player of all time.
Absolute monster of a player. Extremely sad to see him go so soon. Puts things into perspective when a guy who could rampage through an entire team in arguably the most physically demanding sport on Earth gets taken down by a disease at such an early age. Thoughts go to his loved ones too. His kids are way too young to lose their dad
Rest in peace, Jonah. Best rugby player of all time.
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Never been a Rugby fan but I always loved watching Lomu play. I even had his PS1 game when I didn't even know the rules of the sport 
True legend of sport. RIP.
True legend of sport. RIP.
Absolutely love this, what a great tribute: kids from Jonah Lomu's school pay tribute to him by performing the haka in his honour.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/34866044
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/34866044
1.96m, 119kg. That tall and heavy but at his prime could do the 100m in 10.8 seconds. an inspiration to all I'm sure who have ever played the game. Rest in peace, big man.
There have been some fantastic tributes to the great man. I loved the tribute on the cover of the Irish Examiner - beautifully poignant image:
and this cartoon, published by a South African newspaper before the world cup in 95, would make you pinch yourself and remember he was only 20 years old at that tournament!
and this cartoon, published by a South African newspaper before the world cup in 95, would make you pinch yourself and remember he was only 20 years old at that tournament!