Jonah Lomu was born on May 12, 1975 in Auckland, New Zealand as Jonah Tali Lomu. He was married to Nadene Quirk, Fiona Taylor and Tanya Rutter. He died on November 18, 2015 in Auckland.
Nadene Quirk (m. 2011–2015, his death), Fiona Lomu (m. 2003–2008), Tanya Rutter (m. 1996–2000)
Children
Dhyreille Lomu, Brayley Lomu
Siblings
John Lomu, Irene Lomu, Noah Lomu, Sela Lomu
Awards
1998 Kuala Lumpur, Rugby sevens - Commonwealth Games (gold medal)
Nominations
International Rugby Hall of Fame (2007), IRB Hall of Fame (2011), Top Player 1995 World Cup (South Africa), Rugby World Cup all-time top try scorers, 100 Greatest Sporting Moments (2002, UK), Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (2007)
TV Shows
Scrum V - Rugby Show, Help For Heroes, charity match (2008), "Fight for Life" 2011, New Zealand; Video games:Jonah Lomu Rugby, Rugby Challenge, Invictus
Star Sign
Taurus
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Trademark
1
Has his playing number (11) shaved into his eye brow
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Quote
1
Looking back, my whole life seems so surreal. I didn't just turn up on the doorstep playing rugby; I had to go through a whole lot of things to get there.
2
Towards the end of 2003 it was hard to get through training - and the darkest point was when a doctor told me there was a possibility I could end up in a wheelchair.
3
When I was playing I felt tired all the time. My recovery period was a lot longer than the other players. They'd be ok after an hour - I'd have to stay in bed till the next session.
4
Until 1998, I worked in marketing at ASB bank. I loved it.
5
I was on dialysis for 18 months before the transplant, so it was important I tried to look ahead to days like my comeback this Saturday. You need those big goals to drive you on.
6
I was this guy who'd been racing around down there, on that field in 1999, running straight over people, scoring tries, winning games, having fun. And I ended up so sick I couldn't even run past a little baby.
7
It was in 2003 that I realised there was no choice but to have dialysis treatment - by the time of the World Cup that year, I could barely walk. A year later, I finally had a kidney transplant.
8
It was like falling off a building and suddenly, bang, you hit the bottom. The first time it happened was on an ordinary day at home. I was taking down some curtains. I took one step, turned around, took another step and then I fell and hit my head hard on the rowing machine.
9
I was diagnosed with the illness right before the 1995 World Cup.
10
I was only operating at about 80% of my capacity.
11
I went to a boarding school with a strong Maori tradition, where we were taught all about the haka.
12
It annoys me when people who don't know what they're talking about boo the referee.
13
It's a really exciting time to be involved in Welsh rugby.
14
I always say to people that you have never seen the best of me, and that's what I mean - I've never been fully fit.
15
I am very excited to be here in Wales and look forward to putting on the Cardiff Blues shirt.
16
I have a stab wound on my left hip and one on my thigh and a slash mark across my right calf. I have a bottle stab wound on my left calf.
17
I have crooked toes from wearing boots that didn't fit me because that's all I could afford as a kid.
18
I thought about dying whenever I got bad news about other people.
19
How do I take a step? How do I lift my foot off the ground, move it through the air a little bit and then bring it down? I had to teach myself to walk again.
20
It's been a long road back to health and fitness for me. I am just glad to have been given the opportunity to do what I love most.
21
The biggest thing for me is just to get out on that field. Just to do that will be incredible.
22
Each haka has its own interpretation, but you have to make sure you are in unison with your team-mates; the haka should be a proper war cry.
23
For me to get through the toughest periods in my life, I had to look within to find the energy to do it. I don't give up. Never have. Never will.
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Fact
1
He was awarded the M.N.Z.M. (Member of the Order of New Zealand) in the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honors List for his services to Rugby in Auckland, New Zealand.
2
Has his own Playstation game - "Jonah Lomu's Rugby"
3
Has the number 11 - which is his famous playing number - tattooed on his muscular chest.
4
Jonah has a wax likeness of himself at Madame Tussauds in London.
5
He was offered the role of the villain Gabor in the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough (1999), however, he declined in order to concentrate fully on his rugby career. The role was then given to former Gladiator John Seru (a.k.a. 'Vulcan').
6
Jonah is a giant New Zealand rugby player regarded as one of the world's best players ever. Bizarrely, Jonah plays as a winger - a position usually occupied by the lightest and smallest players. On his best form, it can take 4 or more players to bring Jonah down.
7
Jonah turned down a multi-million dollar offer to play American football.
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
River Deep, Mountain High: James Nesbitt in New Zealand
2013
Documentary
Himself
Famous and Fearless
2011
TV Series
Himself - Competitor
Quelli che... il calcio
2009
TV Series
Himself
Le grand journal de Canal+
2007
TV Series documentary
Himself
V Graham Norton
2002
TV Series
Himself
This Is Your Life
2002
TV Series documentary
Himself
What Now! 20th Birthday Special
2001
TV Special
Live & Kicking
1998
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Miss World 1998
1998
TV Movie
Himself - Judge
Known for movies
River Deep, Mountain High: James Nesbitt in New Zealand (2013) as Himself
$2 Million
