He was a freak. Honestly, that’s not an insult—it’s a quote from England captain Will Carling after his team got dismantled in 1995. Imagine a guy who stands 6’5”, weighs nearly 120kg, and can run the 100 meters in under 11 seconds. That was Jonah Lomu.
When he burst onto the scene in the mid-90s, rugby union was still rubbing the sleep out of its eyes as a professional sport. Lomu didn't just walk through the door; he kicked it off the hinges. For many in New Zealand, he wasn't just a winger. He was the person who proved that a kid from South Auckland could become the most recognizable face on the planet.
But the crazy part? He did most of it while his body was literally failing him.
The 1995 World Cup: When the World Changed
If you weren't around in 1995, it’s hard to explain the shock of seeing Jonah Lomu at the World Cup in South Africa. Before him, wings were usually these lean, twitchy guys who tried to run around people.
Lomu ran through them.
The semi-final against England is the stuff of nightmares for defenders. He scored four tries. The most famous one involved him literally trampling over Mike Catt. Poor Catt was a world-class fullback, but in that moment, he looked like a speed bump. Keith Quinn, the legendary Kiwi commentator, famously gasped "Lomu! Oh! Oh!" because there were no words left.
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Breaking the Mold
- Youngest All Black: He debuted at 19 years and 45 days.
- Physicality: He was the size of a forward but played on the wing.
- Global Reach: He became the first true global superstar of rugby, attracting sponsors like McDonald's and Adidas.
It’s often said that Lomu saved rugby's transition to professionalism. Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp was looking to invest in a sport that had global appeal, and Jonah provided the highlight reel they needed. Without that 1995 performance, the financial landscape of the game might look very different today.
The Secret Battle with Nephrotic Syndrome
Here is what most people get wrong. They think Jonah Lomu was this invincible titan. The truth is much heavier.
By the end of 1995—the same year he terrified the English—he was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, a rare and serious kidney disorder. Basically, his kidneys were leaking protein at a rate that would have sidelined most people for life.
Think about that for a second.
When you watch the clips of him scoring eight tries in the 1999 World Cup, you're watching a man whose body was struggling to process toxins. He was constantly fatigued. He had massive issues with fluid retention. He was playing the most physical sport on earth at its highest level while essentially being a chronic health patient.
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He didn't make excuses. He just kept running.
A Kidney Transplant and the Final Act
By 2003, the game was up. His kidneys had finally packed it in. He started dialysis, which is a grueling six-hour process three times a week. For a guy who lived for movement, being tethered to a machine was a special kind of hell.
In 2004, he received a kidney transplant. The donor was a friend and radio host named Grant Kereama. It gave Jonah a second lease on life. He even tried a comeback, playing for the Cardiff Blues in Wales and Marseille in France. He wasn't the same "freight train" he used to be, but the fact that he was on the pitch at all was a miracle.
Sadly, the body is a fickle thing. In 2011, around the time New Zealand was hosting the Rugby World Cup, his body began to reject the transplant. He went back on the waiting list, back to the dialysis machines.
Life After the Jersey
Lomu spent his later years focusing on his family—his wife Nadene and his sons, Brayley and Dhyreille. He was also a massive advocate for Kidney Kids NZ. He’d go to clinics and sit with children who were scared of the needles and the machines. He knew what they were going through because he was living it every single day.
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The Legacy He Left Behind in New Zealand
When Jonah died unexpectedly in November 2015, just after returning from the World Cup in England, New Zealand stood still. He was only 40.
You saw the impact at his memorial service at Eden Park. Thousands showed up. Former teammates and rivals alike wept. There was a massive haka performed by students from his old school, Wesley College. It was a send-off fit for a king, which is essentially what he was in the rugby world.
He changed the way the game is played. Every modern winger—from Julian Savea to Caleb Clarke—is compared to the Lomu blueprint. Teams started looking for "big wings" because Jonah proved that power was just as valuable as pace.
But his real legacy isn't the 37 tries for the All Blacks. It’s the humility. Despite being the biggest name in the sport, he was famously shy and incredibly generous. He’d spend hours signing autographs and chatting with fans. He never forgot where he came from.
What We Can Learn From the Legend
Jonah Lomu’s life offers more than just sports highlights; it provides a roadmap for resilience. If you're looking to apply his mindset to your own challenges, consider these specific takeaways:
- Redefine Your Role: Don't let your "position" in life or work define your limits. Lomu was told he was too big for a wing, so he changed what a wing was.
- Manage the Invisible Struggle: Everyone is fighting a battle you can't see. Lomu's greatest performances happened while he was internally unwell. Persistence is often a quiet, grueling choice.
- Prioritize Legacy over Fame: Focus on how you treat people when the cameras are off. Lomu is remembered for his kindness just as much as his tries.
If you want to dive deeper into the technical side of his impact, look up his 1995 highlights and compare the average player size then to today. The "Lomu Effect" is literally visible in the evolution of human biology in professional sports. For those interested in supporting his cause, checking out Kidney Kids NZ is a great way to keep his advocacy alive.