Thursday’s rugby news has the passing of Jonah Lomu, Tributes for Lomu, Cheika not giving on overseas players and Australian Rugby mourns the loss of Lomu.
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Lomu Passes Away
All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu has passed away in Auckland at the age of 40.
Lomu had just returned back from Dubai on his way back from the World Cup in England.
Former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew confirmed Lomu had passed away due to complications with his kidneys.
Lomu had a long running battle with his kidneys which forced him into early retirement. Lomu had a life saving kidney transplant in 2004.
“It is with great sadness that I must announce my dear husband Jonah Lomu died last night,” Lomu’s wife Nadene said.
“As you can imagine, this is a devastating loss for our family and may I ask that our privacy, especially the privacy of our two very young boys, be respected as we take them through this traumatic time.”
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Tributes for Lomu
Following the death of Jonah Lomu tributes have flooded in from all over the world for one of rugby’s best ever players.
Former and current players have expressed their shock, sadness and condolences over social media.
“I am so, so devastated to hear of the passing away of @JONAHTALILOMU The greatest superstar and just a fabulous human being. Deeply saddened,” Johnny Wilkinson tweeted.
“1994 I was 11years old & saw my hero play for the All Blacks..A legend of the game & someone I wanted to be. #Jonah_Lomu #Can_Be_Only_One 11″ tweeted former All Blacks winger Cory Jane.
Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick also tweeted: “Our thoughts are with the @JONAHTALILOMU family tonight. A very special person”
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Cheika Not Giving Up
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika will not give up on players who decide to play overseas.
“With Toomua, he’s not coming until 2017 so he’s still got a season of Super rugby and international rugby to play this coming season.
“He’ll be considered for full international commitments; there’s no reason why he wouldn’t be. He’s committed to Australia until that time and he’s been a big part of the Australian team.
“I think with Matt, his decision was based on a few of his own personal things and what he wanted.
“We had a couple of discussions about it, and just like with a few other players who have gone overseas I’ll be ringing him every couple of weeks and saying, ‘when are you coming home? Get out of there, come back.’
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ARU Mourns Loss
The Australian Rugby Union has joined the rest of the world in mourning the loss of Jonah Lomu.
“I speak on behalf of the entire Australian Rugby community in expressing our deep sadness today after the passing of one of our game’s greatest ever players,” said ARU CEO Bill Pulver.
“There will never be another Jonah Lomu. He was Rugby’s first genuine superstar and as well as being an extraordinary Rugby player he was also an exceptional man who gave everything to the game and his community in Auckland.
“His long battle with health has been well documented and his legend grew even greater as he continued to inspire us all with his fight for life against a rare and crippling disease.
“The ARU wishes to extend its deepest sympathies to the Lomu family, as well as the New Zealand Rugby Union and the many other people in our game who were fortunate to have known the great man.
“Jonah’s legacy will live forever in our game, and indeed all over the world.”
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