Jonah Lomu was a great rugby player who died suddenly last week, aged 40. He was a very popular player, like a super star. Whenever Lomu was playing, thousands of fans came to the game to watch him. He was a big man – 1.96m tall, weighing 120kg – and was known for his speed and power on the rugby field. In 1994, when he was only 19, he was the youngest All Black to play in an international game. In 2007, his name joined other famous players in the International Rugby Hall of Fame.
Unfortunately, he developed a rare kidney disease. His health suffered until, in 2004, Lomu had a kidney transplant. The kidney was donated by a friend.
He returned to playing rugby after his transplant but not as an All Black. Recently, he had to go back onto kidney dialysis as a result of kidney failure.
He was born in Auckland but lived his early childhood with his Tongan family in Tonga. The Pacific Island community held a memorial service for him yesterday. There will be a public memorial service next Monday at Eden Park. Thousands of people are expected to attend.
Lomu was married 3 times and has 2 young children.
Vocabulary
• rare – not common, not usual
• kidney dialysis – uses a machine to remove waste and water from the blood
• memorial service – a service to remember him, not a funeral service