Editorial: Lomu a special Kiwi

Rugby legend Jonah Lomu passed away yesterday.

Living with chronic kidney disease was the toughest challenge Jonah Lomu faced.

It was a daily battle to stay alive and sadly he died yesterday, aged 40.

The legendary All Blacks winger was on a waiting list for a second kidney transplant operation when the final whistle blew way too early for arguably the most famous rugby player the world has ever known.

Lomu played 63 test matches for the All Blacks in a celebrated career from 1994 through to 2002. He burst onto the global stage at the 1995 Rugby World Cup when he scored seven tries in four matches, including four in the semifinal against England. He was also a magnificent sevens player for New Zealand from 1994 to 2001.

Tauranga's resident All Blacks Sevens coach, Sir Gordon Tietjens, first picked Lomu as an 18-year-old and rates him as probably the most outstanding individual he coached in terms of the X-factors that he offered.

But despite the world wide adoration he received, Lomu never forgot his humble beginnings growing up in South Auckland. He always had time for people and wondered why he got so much attention.

I saw this up close in Sigatoka, Fiji in 2012 when Lomu was the guest of honour at the Coral Coast Sevens tournament with his wife Nadene and boys Brayley and Dhyreille.

Organisers unveiled a special plaque for him on the Sevens Walk of Fame beside Waisale Serevi and David Campese. I spent time with Lomu afterwards and he was clearly humbled to have his name beside two players he regarded as "true legends of the game".

The next day Lomu arrived back at the hotel from Suva Hospital after six hours of kidney dialysis. He was clearly in pain, and struggling to walk, but when he saw me offered a firm handshake.

Beside me was the Auckland Marist Sevens team and, despite needing to rest, Lomu spent 20 minutes signing autographs, posing for photos and talking to the star-struck players.

It is a memory I will never forget of a special New Zealander.