Jonah Lomu

As of December 6, 2009 National: November 11, 2006

Jonah ( Tali ) Lomu ( born May 12, 1975 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a former New Zealand rugby union player Tongan descent.

Career

Lomu grew up in the south of Auckland, where he attended Wesley College. In his college time Lomu was discovered by scouts. In 1994 he moved into the international spotlight when Hong Kong Sevens tournament. At age 19 he became the youngest member of the team of all time in the All Blacks. He attended with his style and above all by its superior speed sensation. So he ran at his best in spite of about 125 kg body weight and 1.96 meters tall, the 100m in 10.8 seconds and was therefore often break through the enemy defenses. In his professional time he played 63 times for the All Blacks, where he scored 185 points.

A rare kidney disease was discovered in 1994 with him, causing him to never play his class throughout. In 2003, he finally had to withdraw from professional sports. After a kidney transplant in 2004 he made ​​a comeback with the long-term goal at the Rugby World Cup 2007 participating in France. Interrupted by injuries, he played for the Cardiff Blues and the New Zealand province of North Harbour in the Air New Zealand Cup, but could not prevail and there was none of the New Zealand province of a contract for the Super 14 After this setback, he announced that his dream of playing in the World Cup, has become unattainable. However Lomu explained during a guest lecture on September 21, 2007 in Geneva, that he has the goal to play again in 2008 in professional rugby. In 2009 he was hired by the French third division club Marseille Vitrolles Rugby, he received a two- year contract.

On June 4, 2007 Lomu was appointed a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

1996 Lomu married South African Tanya Rutter which, the couple separated in 1998. 2003 was followed by the marriage with Fiona Taylor.