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Louis Dor
Nov 18, 2015
(Picture: Ross Land/Getty Images
One of New Zealand’s greatest ever rugby union players, Jonah Lomu, has died at the age of 40.
The winger, who scored 37 tries in 63 matches, had suffered from a rare kidney disease.
Social media users and other greats of the sport are remembering Lomu following the news of his death:
Mike Catt bulldozed in 1995:
Mike Catt, former England international and current England attacking skills coach, was bulldozed when he attempted to tackle Lomu in the 1995 World Cup, in one of Lomu’s finest tries of the tournament.
The sight became an iconic image of world rugby, just before the sport embraced professionalism. New Zealand won the match against England 45-29, and Lomu scored four tries in the process. He remains the all-time top Rugby World Cup try scorer, joint with Bryan Habana.
Catt said of Lomu’s passing:
I’m massively sad but the legacy he’s left is incredible. He’s inspired millions of people around the world to watch the sport and start playing. He changed rugby union during the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Jonah did a lot for charity, he put an awful lot back into the game and I think every rugby player would say if there’s anyone who deserved a Rugby World Cup medal it’s Jonah.
It was an amateur game when he played England in 1995 so to put rugby on the map like he did was phenomenal because the following year the game went professional.
I don’t think he understood the impact he had on the game.
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