His biography on the All Blacks website says: "When he was at the peak of his career around the 1996-97 season there were no more awesome sights when he was in full flight than Joeli Vidiri, the big Fijian wing who made his home in South Auckland in the mid-90s.
"He played together with Jonah Lomu in several appearances for Counties-Manukau and for the Blues and it is doubtful whether two more imposing figures have ever been together in any side. And especially in the 1996-97 seasons Vidiri was the more effective of the two.
"As with so many Fijians, Vidiri had pace, power and a 1.90m, 100kg physique. For both Counties and the Blues in the Super 12 he proved to be a prolific try scorer, notching 10 in each of the 1996-97-98 seasons.
"But tragically playing together so often was not the only parallel Vidiri had with his close friend, Lomu.
"In an uncanny coincidence Vidiri was also stricken with a grave kidney illness which in 2001 brought his career to an abrupt halt. He, too, was placed on dialysis treatment."
All Black Joeli Vidiri made his international debut during the second Test v England at Eden Park in 1998. Photo / Getty Images
After his kidney transplant, he told the Herald that he had initially been taken off a transplant waiting list in 2008 because his mother, Alemeci, had concerns but the pair reconciled and in a nice twist she was visiting her son when he got the call in late May 2015 that a donor had been found.
"I was asleep about three in the morning and mum was there and she heard the phone beep and said I'd better check it," Vidiri said.
Former rugby players Dallas Seymour and Joeli Vidiri embrace following the Public Memorial for Jonah Lomu at Eden Park on November 30, 2015 in Auckland. Photo / Getty Images
"It was my physician and he wanted me there in about two hours at Auckland Hospital."
Vidiri and a woman who'd been waiting even longer for a transplant, each received a healthy kidney from an unidentified young man who had died.
Two great Counties men.
Jonah and Joeli both lit up the playing field, both had careers cut short by kidney disease.
Counties' Joeli Vidiri on the burst against Canterbury during their NPC match won 49-42 by Counties. Photo / Getty Images
His biography on the Allblacks.com website added: "Vidiri's exploits for Counties and the Blues led to then All Blacks coach John Hart putting the giant wing on a fast track into the national side. He was taken in 1996 on the Barbarians' short tour of England and in the unofficial international scored a try in the 34-19 win. At that time having played previously for another country did not stop a player representing a second and when Vidiri had served his requisite residential qualification he was brought into the All Blacks squad in 1998.
"Unfortunately, that was one of the All Blacks' worst international seasons and Vidiri was never at ease in what was an unsettled side. He came on as a replacement for Lomu in the test against England at Eden Park in 1998 and scored a try. He then played in the 24-16 loss against the Wallabies at Melbourne and soon after disappeared from the national squad with just two games.
"However, he played in five matches for New Zealand A in 1999 and scored a try in the side's match against the All Blacks.
"He continued playing for the Blues in the Super 12 until 2001 and in 61 games scored 43 tries, at the time an individual record. But in his latter season he was being increasingly affected by his illness. He had only five Super 12 matches in 2001 and after two early matches with Auckland in the NPC he ended his career, a sad finale for one of the game's finest entertainers."
