‘Maradona of Rugby': From a poignant newspaper front page to teammates, tributes pour in for Jonah Lomu

Jonah Lomu, the hulking New Zealand winger who died on Wednesday from kidney disease, dragged rugby union into the modern era with the same ferocity he used to trample opposing players.

Hailed as the sport’s first global superstar, he shot to international fame at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa, a year after becoming the youngest ever All Black at the age of 19 years and 45 days.

At his peak, the 1.96 metre (six foot five inch) Lomu weighed 120 kilograms (265 pounds) and could cover 100 metres in 10.8 seconds, providing a combination of speed and power that terrorised opponents.

While New Zealand ultimately lost to hosts South Africa in the 1995 final, the tournament’s defining image was of Lomu trampling over a hapless Mike Catt on his way to four tries in the All Blacks’ semi-final win over England.

Tributes have poured in for Lomu from around the world, but it will be difficult to beat the front page ode of the Irish Examiner - simple, poignant and deeply moving.

Outstanding front page from the @irishexaminer. #JonahLomu pic.twitter.com/5h6lZyjmas

— Simon Borchardt (@SimonBorchardt) November 19, 2015

Two great #JonahLomu cartoons pic.twitter.com/Byafmw4Zze

— Simon Borchardt (@SimonBorchardt) November 19, 2015

Here’s a collection of other tributes for the All Blacks legend

“Jonah Lomu was for rugby what Maradona was for football” — former Juventus and Italy star Alessandro Del Piero.

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“Jonah Lomu was a player who changed the face of modern rugby. It is sad that he did not live to see the sport return to the Olympic Games next year in Rio de Janeiro. He will be sadly missed” — IOC President Thomas Bach.

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“It’s a very big hole that he’s left in the game. When I went to the United States just after the 1995 Rugby World Cup, I spoke to someone there and they said ‘All we know about rugby is Jonah Lomu,’ and that’s the imprint he had on the game. He was a global superstar and even young kids now, as young as five and six, still know who Jonah Lomu is” — former Australia player Tim Horan.

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“Today rugby has lost one of its true greats. Not just one of the finest players ever to play the game, but a gentleman, a role model and an icon. He was the first superstar player and, through his sheer brilliance and love of the game, he brought much joy to the rugby family and took our sport to a new level of profile” — World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset.

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“You go anywhere and, although the All Blacks are huge, the one player they talk about is Jonah Lomu. (He) singlehandedly put rugby back on the map. There was no one else like him. And, to be honest, there probably never will be” — former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga.

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“Jonah was a legend of our game and loved by his many fans both here and around the world. We’re lost for words and our heartfelt sympathies go out to Jonah’s family — New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew.

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“It’s just so sad, I saw him at the World Cup and he looked so well. It’s just a hell of a shock” — former All Blacks coach Graham Henry.

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“Rest in peace to my brother Jonah Lomu. Going to miss you bro” — Australia fullback Israel Folau, who, like Lomu, is of Tongan descent.

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“Jonah was a simply unbelievable player but, as much as he was a mighty All Black, he had a special place in South African hearts because of the connection we made in 1995. He was a credit to his country and a world ambassador for the game.” — South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins.

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“For me, Jonah embodied that Islander spirit. You would have to say he was the first proper worldwide rugby superstar” —New Zealand star Sonny Bill Williams, who is also of Pacific Islander decent.

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“I am so, so devastated to hear of the passing away of @JONAHTALILOMU The greatest superstar and just a fabulous human being” — a tweet from former England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson.

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“Wingers are usually small and nimble. Suddenly you had this huge guy who was big and fast and amazing. He changed rugby” — Clive Woodward, England’s 2003 World Cup-winning coach.

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“RIP Jonah. You inspired a generation of rugby players around the world” — France flanker Thierry Dusautoir.

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“There will never be another Jonah Lomu. He was rugby’s first genuine superstar and as well as being an extraordinary player he was also an exceptional man who gave everything to the game and his community in Auckland” — Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver.

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“He was to me the guy who changed the sport forever, an unbelievable machine on the pitch and a superb guy off it, the guy who could dominate whatever era of rugby history he was put in” — former England rugby captain Mike Tindall.

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“Going to miss you bro. I was blessed to learn from the best and take important clips about life in general but most important the meaning of family. You gave so much to your game and left an imprint all over the world about never giving up.” — Australian soccer player Tim Cahill.

AP & AFP inputs