He jointly holds the record for most tries in World Cup history alongside South Africa’s Bryan Habana, who drew level with him at the 2015 tournament.
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New Zealand’s Prime Minister was among those who tweeted a message following the news.
Australia had a 35-34 lead with 30 seconds to go before Lomu ran down the left touch line to score in the corner and gift New Zealand a 39-35 win.
Jonah Lomu: Pay tribute to a legend Share your stories, photos and videos.
He is survived by his wife Nadene and two sons.
After Lomu started playing with the All Blacks a plan formed to be expansive, fast and high-tempo, with wingers Jeff Wilson, Eric Rush and Glen Osborne expected to form the tries, Fitzpatrick said. He had a kidney transplant in 2004 before it failed in 2011.
In an interview with The Guardian in August, the winger said: “What it meant for rugby, that World Cup changed everything”.
He played for several domestic teams in his homeland, Auckland Blues, Chiefs and Hurricanes, North Harbour, Counties Manukau and Wellington – and also had a stint in Wales with Cardiff Blues, for whom he played 10 matches.
Zac, aged 20, had only found out two months ago that he had a cancerous tumour on his chest and a rare form of leukaemia, and his family have since been trying to raise awareness of his condition.
“It is with great sadness that I must announce my dear husband Jonah Lomu died [overnight]”, she said.
“So sad, life is so cruel”, wrote Jonathan. “My thoughts are with your family”.
Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond also paid his own tribute to Lomu, who scored 37 tries in 63 games for New Zealand, describing him as the man who bridged the sport in its transformation from an amateur sport into a professional one.
He began receiving treatment and missed a handful of matches over the next few years but remained a formidable presence on the pitch when he was fit and returned to his best for the 1999 World Cup in Britain, Ireland and France.
Lomu was an icon who transcended the game and became rugby’s first bona fide superstar.
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Morne du Plessis, manager of the 1995 Bok world cup winning team, says Lomu leaves a huge hole.
