Tributes from the sporting world have been pouring in for Jonah Lomu, who sadly passed away at the age of 40 on Wednesday.
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Jonah Lomu causes havoc for Ireland at the World Cup in South Africa [Picture: Getty]The game did go to script, though, with New Zealand recovering from an impressive Irish start to rattle off five tries in a 43-19 win.
However, Lomu once turned out for Wrexham RUFC at their Bryn Estyn Lane ground in November 1995, just a few months after bursting on to the global scene at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.
This included a stop in Reading, where he was at the station and at Green Park to meet and greet supporters.
The tributes came from all over the world and from all different backgrounds.
England World Cup victor Jonny Wilkinson added: “I am so devastated to hear of the passing of Jonah Lomu”.
“That was the most fantastic thing, that he gave so much to the game, both on and off the field”.
Although he never lifted the Webb Ellis trophy, he was one of Rugby Union’s first worldwide superstars.
Lomu played 63 times for New Zealand after making his debut in 1994.
“I look back now and think what an absolute privilege and pleasure to have played with someone like that”.
Quite simply, Lomu was a giant of world rugby.
There, the Tongan sports minister said of Lomu, “Certainly if other countries were proud of Jonah Lomu, then firstly Tonga would be much prouder”.
“We’re all shocked and deeply saddened at the sudden death of Jonah Lomu”, New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said. “A legend and a true inspiration he kept fighting”.
“Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Jonah’s family and friends at this time”.
Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga said: “I’m probably like everyone else”.
He quit the sport in 2002 aged 27 because of Nephrotic syndrome, a rare and serious kidney disease, and had been on dialysis treatment for more than a decade. “He changed the face of the game in terms of what has followed on since”.
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Lomu was also one of the first rugby players to capitalise on his fame, lending his name to a number of business ventures, including popular video games Jonah Lomu Rugby and Rugby Challenge.
