The untimely death of rugby legend Jonah Lomu has conjured up all sorts of memories and emotions, stories and tributes from all over the world. The Queen and David Beckham, and almost everyone in between, have shared their memories of Jonah.
Israel Dagg tweeted that he was in Mexico and people were talking about him there. Even Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman expressed how he, too, had been impacted by Lomu’s life and now his death: “Heartbroken to hear the news about All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu. His strength and passion were a source of inspiration to all of us. Our prayers go out to his family during this time of great sadness.”
Beckham also wrote, “So sad to hear the news about this amazing giant of a man...
A sporting hero and one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet.
A credit to his country, his family and to the sport that he passionately played... Jonah you will be missed.”
Former England rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward shared a funny memory, saying, “The night before a game I used to list the two teams, and I said in a team meeting ‘there’s nobody I’d swap man for man’ and I got to the end and the then captain Will Greenwood put his hand up and said; ‘Clive we’re all with you, but on behalf of all the team I think we’d swap Austin Healey for Jonah Lomu’.”
For me, however, it’s not so much the memory of Jonah crashing over the top of England’s Mike Catt at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the scene that was matched with commentator Keith Quinn’s now infamous words. The veteran broadcaster was near speechless, gasping, “Lomu... Oh... Oh!”
But my lasting memory of Jonah was when I had just started my career as a sports journalist at Radio Live. The office and studio on Ponsonby’s Arthur Street is almost directly across the road from Lomu’s old residence. It was seeing this giant of a man, famous for running over the top of rugby players from all creeds and opposition, creeping out onto Arthur street in slippers and a fluffy towel type dressing gown to collect his morning newspaper. He’d sheepishly, but also happily, greet you “good morning” before rushing back inside hoping not to be spotted by anyone else.
It always made me chuckle, that here was this global super star cruising around in
a dressing gown, not in a Hugh Hefner in his harem kind of way, but just in the exact same way every other Joe Bloggs goes about their morning routine, proving just how normal he truly was.
Rest in peace Jonah Lomu, you will be sorely missed. (GEORGE BERRY)