How This Rugby Legend Was IMPOSSIBLE To Stop!

Intro MD look at that he stepped inside one he beat the prop ran through third at 1.97 M he's as tall as most locks and at 119 kg is as heavy as most props despite his massive size and being the tallest and heaviest Back In All Blacks history lman could still Sprint 100 m in an astonishing 10.89 seconds at his Peak at school he trained by running around the field while pulling a lawn roller with a rope tied around is waste I'm talking about the rugby Legend Jonah lomu he's Jonah Lomu not just given the nickname the icon for the sake of it he played rugby league until he was 14 at Wesley College under coach Chris grinter he became a dynamic loose forward in the school's first 15 his talent soon caught the eye of provincial rugby selectors and he joined the County's Manuka National Provincial Championship NPC team lomu also made a mark on the national stage representing New Zealand under 7 in 1991 992 and New Zealand secondary schools in 9293 and this is where things became even better for him in 1993 Jon Al lomu represented New Zealand in the National under 19 side and the following year he was part of the under 21 team his first taste of international Fame came at the 1994 Hong Kong sevens where he was part of a fearsome Squad alongside Eric rush and Christian Cullen at just 19 years and 45 days old Jon lomu became the the youngest all black test player ever when he made his debut on the wing against France in 1994 the match played at Lancaster Park in Christ Church ended in a 228 loss for the All Blacks L's performance was modest but it was enough to secure his place for the next game the second match against France took place at Eden Park in Oakland and despite lom's efforts the All Blacks lost again 23 to 1995 World cup 20 despite the two early losses in his career jonal lomu's Talent was was undeniable and the national team selectors kept their faith in him in a move that surprised many coach Lori Mains included lomu in the 1995 World Cup squad lomu was seen as a wildcard pick but his performances during the tournament would soon make that notion seem laughable this was the tournament that catapulted Jon lomu to World stardom the 95 World Cup was a historic event with South Africa recently freed from the grip of apartheid hosting its first major sporting event it was also the first first World Cup held in a single country and the first one South Africa could compete in against this powerful backdrop jonal lomu emerged as the star of the tournament leading the All Blacks on their Journey to the final lomu's seven tries throughout the tournament were nothing short of spectacular in the semi-finals against England he scored four tries including one where he bulldozed through the English defense with a blend of speed skill and raw power that left everyone in awe the image of lomu charging at full speed trampling over Defender ERS like there were mere obstacles became iconic it was this breathtaking display that defined his career and etched his name into rugby folklore although the All Blacks were defeated in the final by the host South Africa lomu was named the player of the tournament his performances on the field coupled with his humility off of it played a significant role in the game turning professional the following Super stardom and illness year we can all agree that lomu was Rugby's First International Superstar often compared to Legends like Pelle Diego maradon Tiger Woods Muhammad Ali and Dom Bradman whenever lomu played stadiums filled with fans eager to witness his magic he became a hero especially for new zealanders and those with Pacific island Heritage lom's career soared as he scored tries playing across the globe playing in Australia Italy France and at home against teams like Australia Samoa and Scotland but just as he was reaching New Heights he faced a devastating setback in late 1996 lman was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome a rare and serious kidney illness this forced him out of the sport causing him to miss the first TR Nation Series in 1997 for six long months he battled the illness but by the end of 1997 he made a triumphant return to rugby still only 22 years old in 1998 his incredible comeback was crowned with gold as New Zealand won the Seven's rugby at the Commonwealth Games in koala Lumpa the following year England Tor New Zealand and Lomi was Unstoppable he scored a try in a 6422 victory in dun Eden and even though he didn't score in the 4019 win in the second test his presence was felt 1999 saw him shine once more in the World Cup stage despite New Zealand's inability to clinch the title his Brilliance was undeniable starting the year of him from the bench he was back in the starting lineup by the World Cup the All Blacks were defeated by France in the semi-finals but lomu was the tournament standout star scoring eight tries and captivating fans Ending international career worldwide Jon alom dominance on the Rugby field continued unabated in the year 2000 in a match celebrated as the match of the century played in front of a record-breaking crowd of 10,874 in Sydney L's Brilliance Shawn once again with the Australians leading 3534 and only minutes remaining lomu seized the ball Shrugged off a desperate Defender and sprinted down the line to score the winning try in the final moments sealing a dramatic victory in 2001 he added another Accolade to his illustrious career by helping New Zealand win the sevens World Cup shortly thereafter he celebrated a significant Milestone by playing his 50th test for New Zealand scoring a try in the second minute of a hardfought match against South Africa but what no one knew was that this marked the beginning of a farewell tour for the legendary Len he embarked on a journey with the All Blacks playing pivotal roles in victories against Ireland Argentina Scotland and England his final appearance for the All Blacks came in a match against Wales though the All Blacks emerged VI Victorious the joy was shortlived lum's kidney illness had taken a turn for the worse and he needed a kidney transplant this forced him away from the game that he loved once again 3 years later in 2005 Jonah lomu Comeback and retirement made his courageous return to professional rugby though his comeback wasn't the triumphant return the All Blacks had dreamed of nonetheless it fortified his legendary status battling through debilitating injuries enduring a kidney transplant and overcoming 3 years away from the game his return to the rug pitch was a testament to his indomitable Spirit despite never wearing the All Blacks Jersey again he played in New Zealand Australia and Wales competing in club rugby for just over two years his perseverance was all the more remarkable considering his health struggles in 2003 the New Zealand Rugby Football Union revealed that lomu was undergoing dialysis three times a week due to the worsening condition of his kidneys this grueling treatment caused nerve damage in his legs and feet making a kidney transplant inevitable the kidney was donated by Wellington radio presenter Grant kerama an act of profound generosity that gave lomu another shot at life and at rugby over his 8year tenure with the All Blacks lomu scored 185 points but his True Legacy extends far beyond numbers he remains one of Rugby's finest and most celebrated players a beacon of resilience and inspiration as both A tongen and A New Zealander lom's influence on the world stage was Death and legacy immense jono lomu's life marked by extraordinary highs and and heart-wrenching lows came to a sudden end on November 18th 2015 when he passed away at just 40 years old following a heart attack linked to his long-term kidney condition his death was a shock to the world as he'd returned to his home in ockland from overseas only the day before the time of his passing lomu lived with his wife Nadine and their children brayy and derell he was inducted into the International Rugby hold of Fame in 2007 and the world rugby hold of Fame in 2011 in recognition of his contributions to the sport he was appointed as a member of the New Zealand order of Merit in the 2007 Queen's birthday honors well how do you think Outro Jon Al's Legacy would have evolved if we'd never faced his health challenges let us know your thoughts in the comments below and anyway if you enjoyed this video make sure to like share and subscribe for more amazing stories from the World of Sports