Jonah Lomu dies: Tributes paid to rugby legend - BBC News

Jonah Lomu dies: Tributes paid to rugby legend

  • Published
Lomu, posing for a photo outside in Queenstown, New ZealandImage source, Allsport
Image caption,

A legend in his home country, Jonah Lomu played in 63 games with the All Blacks

Jonah Lomu, the All Blacks player widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby players of all time, has died at the age of 40.

He had been suffering from a rare kidney disorder and was undergoing dialysis.

New Zealanders, fans and members of the worldwide rugby community have been paying tribute.

Image source, @AllBlacks
Image caption,

Steve Tew, the head of New Zealand Rugby Union

Image source, @AllBlacks
Image source, @AllBlacks
Image source, @jonkeypm
Image caption,

New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key paid his respects...

Image source, @HelenClarkUNDP
Image caption,

... as did former prime minister Helen Clark

Image source, Grant Kereama, Facebook
Image caption,

New Zealand radio host Grant Kereama donated a kidney to Jonah Lomu in 2004

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,

Jonah Lomu's performance against England in the 1995 World Cup, is rated as one of rugby's best ever

Image source, @Wallabies
Image caption,

A tribute came from the Wallabies, Australia's rugby union team

Image source, @IzzyFolau
Image caption,

Australian professional rugby player Israel Folau posted an image of himself with Lomu

Image source, @frontrow92
Image caption,

Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick

Image source, AP
Image caption,

At 19, Lomu was the youngest player ever to play an international with the All Blacks - then went on to the World Cup aged 20

Image source, @SonnyBWilliams
Image caption,

All Black and double World Cup winner Sonny Bill Williams

Image source, @JonnyWilkinson
Image caption,

Former England rugby captain Jonny Wilkinson

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Lomu had posted pictures of himself at the Rugby World Cup final in London on 31 October

Image source, @byrney_15
Image caption,

Former Welsh international Lee Byrne

Image source, @theRPA
Image caption,

The Rugby Players' Association

Image source, @mikebrown_15
Image caption,

England international Mike Brown

Image source, @JiffyRugby
Image caption,

Welsh kicker Jonathan Davies summed up the feelings of many fellow players

Image source, @cardiff_blues
Image caption,

Cardiff - one of Lomu's former teams - paid their own tribute

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,

Jonah Lomu played for Cardiff late in his playing career

Image source, @DanCarter
Image caption,

All Blacks player Dan Carter

Image source, @kurtley_beale
Image caption,

Australia rugby player Kurtley Beale

Image source, @zanelowe
Image caption,

Zane Lowe, former BBC Radio 1 host and fellow Kiwi

Image source, @DannyCipriani87
Image caption,

Danny Cipriani, from England's Sale Sharks, was one of many inspired to take up the game by Jonah Lomu

Image source, @FonotiaKieron
Image caption,

Kieron Fonotia, player for The Crusaders and Tasman Makos, had his own way of being influenced by "hero" Lomu

Image source, @FlyAirNZ
Image caption,

New Zealand's national carrier Air New Zealand

Image source, @RugbyBanterPag3
Image caption,

Some fans paid their respects with kind humour