Jonah Lomu

Jonah Tali Lomu (12 May 1975 – 18 November 2015) was a New Zealand professional rugby union player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential players in the history of the sport, and as one of the most talented sportsmen of all time. Lomu is widely considered to have been the first true global superstar of rugby, and consequently had a huge impact on the game. For his fast and effortless style of play, Lomu was nicknamed the "freight train in ballet shoes", and was celebrated for his ability to shrug off tackles from multiple opponents at once. Born in Pukekohe to Tongan immigrants from Haʻapai, Lomu grew up between rural Tonga and South Auckland. Attending Wesley College, he excelled in athletics and both rugby codes before pursuing a professional career. He became the youngest ever All Black when he played his first international in 1994 at the age of 19 years and 45 days. He was acknowledged as the top player at the 1995 World Cup for his 4-try performance in the semi-final against England. He shares with South African Bryan Habana the Rugby World Cup all-time try scoring record of 15, which he accumulated in only two tournaments. At the height of his fame in the mid-1990s, Lomu became a globally recognised cultural icon of South Auckland and its Pasifika community. His performance at that Rugby World Cup and others that followed established him as "rugby union's biggest drawcard", just as the game turned fully professional, being a major audience pull in any match in which he appeared. He used his celebrity to support Pasifika community efforts and charities such as UNICEF, and often paid bills for his childhood friends in Māngere. Playing on the wing, Lomu finished his international career with 63...