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opularly known as Jonah Lomu in the world of sport is this humongous rugby star born 12 May 1975 of Tongan descent. He is a former New Zealand rugby union player having sixty-three caps as an All Black after debuting in 1994. He is generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union. He has had a huge impact on the game He was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame on 9 October 2007, and the IRB Hall of Fame on 24 October 2011. Path to stardom. Lomu burst onto the international rugby scene during the 1994 Hong Kong Sevens tournament and was widely acknowledged to be the top player at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa even though New Zealand lost the championship game to the host Springboks. At one time Lomu was considered ‘rugby union’s biggest drawcard’, swelling attendances at any match where he appeared. He is the Rugby World Cup all-time top try scorer with 15 tries. He has played for several domestic teams, in the
match was played at Lancaster Park in Christchurch, and the All Blacks lost 22–8. Lomu’s performance was middling. However, he performed well enough to ensure his selection the following week. The match was the second against France and played at Eden Park in Auckland; France won again, 23–20. Despite having just two All Black caps, Lomu was included in the squad for the 1995 World Cup in South Africa. Lomu stunned international rugby audiences (and unsuspecting players) at the 1995 World Cup, when he scored seven tries in five matches, including four in the semi-final against England. In his first ever World Cup match, against Ireland in Johannesburg, he scored two tries in the 43–19 win. In the following match—against Wales—Lomu was replaced during the game, and did not score any tries in the 34–9 victory. He was rested for the final pool match against Japan. In the All Blacks’ quarter final, Lomu scored a try in the 48–30 win over Scotland at Loftus Versfeld. He shocked the 51,000 that packed into Newlands in Cape Town to see the semi-final against England, as he notched up four tries in the 45–29 defeat of the English, including a try in which he ran straight over the top of England fullback Mike Catt. His style of play at times defied description; one New Zealand commentator, Keith Quinn, was famously reduced
Despite having just two All Black caps, Lomu was included in the squad for the 1995 World Cup in South Africa
Super Rugby, NPC and later the Magners League competitions. These included the Auckland Blues, Chiefs and Hurricanes, and Counties Manukau, Wellington and later North Harbour and Cardiff Blues. He made a comeback after undergoing a kidney transplant in 2004. Lomu represented New Zealand in the national under-19 side in 1993, as well as the under-21 side the following year. He first came to international attention at the 1994 Hong Kong Sevens tournament as part of a team including Eric Rush. At the age of 19 years and 45 days, Lomu became the youngest All Black test player as he debuted on the wing against France in 1994, breaking a record that had been held by Edgar Wrigley since 1905. The to gasps as Lomu devastated England’s backline. After the game, Will Carling said: “He is a freak and the sooner he goes away the better”. Lomu’s attacking prowess can be attributed in part to pure power; when near the tryline he often ran his 120 kg frame straight into or over any defenders who had the misfortune to get in his way (a move informally known as the ‘Maori sidestep’). However most of his famous tries were ignited by electric pace (he recorded a time of 10.89 seconds in the 100 meters[citation needed]) as he stepped “in-and-out” on his opposites and ran around them, then use