Some players change a match. Jonah Lomu changed a sport. When the 20-year-old New Zealand wing ran through and over England at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the game was on the verge of turning professional, and he became its first global superstar almost overnight.
Next month marks 11 years since his death in November 2015, aged just 40, yet his 15 World Cup tries and that unstoppable running style still define what a winger can be. Explore our rugby union collection for more legends of the oval ball.
Jonah Lomu Fact File
| Full name | Jonah Tali Lomu MNZM |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 12 May 1975 |
| Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Died | 18 November 2015, Auckland (aged 40) |
| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) |
| Position | Wing |
| Nationality | New Zealander (of Tongan descent) |
| International team | New Zealand (63 Tests, 37 tries) |
| Retired | 2007 (brief return with Marseille Vitrolles 2009–10) |
Career History
| Years | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1994–1999 | Counties Manukau | Provincial debut side |
| 1996–1998 | Blues | Won the first Super 12 title in 1996 |
| 1999 | Chiefs | Super 12 |
| 2000–2003 | Wellington / Hurricanes | Super 12 |
| 2005–2006 | Cardiff Blues | Celtic League |
| 2006 | North Harbour | Provincial |
| 2009–2010 | Marseille Vitrolles | France |
| 1994–2002 | New Zealand | 63 Tests, 37 tries |
Club years from Wikipedia; Test figures confirmed by NZHistory and Britannica. He played 59 Super 12 matches across the Blues, Chiefs and Hurricanes.
Early Years: Wesley College and Sevens
Born in Auckland to Tongan parents, Lomu went to Wesley College, where he started out as a loose forward. His size and speed were extraordinary. He came through New Zealand age-group teams and the national sevens side, and in June 1994 he made his Test debut against France aged 19 years and 45 days, the youngest All Black in Test history.
Honour the legend with our Jonah Lomu Rugby Union Icon Frame Men's Hoodie.
The Breakthrough: Cape Town 1995
The 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa made him a household name. In the semi-final against England at Newlands, Cape Town, on 18 June 1995, Lomu scored four tries, famously running over full-back Mike Catt on his way to the line. He scored seven tries at the tournament and was named Player of the Tournament, although the All Blacks lost the final 15–12 to South Africa after extra time.
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1999 and the World Cup Record
Lomu was just as devastating at the 1999 World Cup, scoring eight tries, a single-tournament record at the time, before New Zealand lost a famous semi-final to France 43–31. That took his World Cup total to 15, a record that stood alone until South Africa's Bryan Habana equalled it in 2015. He also won Commonwealth Games sevens gold in 1998 and Tri Nations titles with the All Blacks in 1996 and 1999. Stay warm on match day in our Jonah Lomu Men's Hoodie.
Later Career and Legacy
Lomu played his last Test in 2002. He had a kidney transplant in 2004 and fought his way back to play for Cardiff Blues and North Harbour before retiring in 2007, with a brief comeback in France later on. He was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007 and the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011. He died in Auckland on 18 November 2015.
Honours
New Zealand
- 63 Tests, 37 tries (1994–2002)
- Tri Nations: 1996, 1999
- Rugby World Cup runner-up (1995)
Club and sevens
- Super 12 champion with the Blues (1996)
- Commonwealth Games sevens gold (1998)
- Rugby World Cup Sevens winner (2001)
Individual
- 15 Rugby World Cup tries (joint record)
- Rugby World Cup Player of the Tournament (1995)
- BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year (1995)
- International Rugby Hall of Fame (2007) and IRB Hall of Fame (2011)
Off the Pitch
Lomu supported UNICEF and Kidney Kids NZ, and his fame even reached video games with Jonah Lomu Rugby. He married Nadene in 2011, and the couple had two sons, Brayley and Dhyreille.
FAQs
How old was Jonah Lomu when he died?
Jonah Lomu was 40 when he died on 18 November 2015. He was born on 12 May 1975.
Where was Jonah Lomu born?
He was born in Auckland, New Zealand, to Tongan parents.
How tall was Jonah Lomu?
He stood about 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) and weighed around 125 kg, enormous for a wing.
How many tries did Jonah Lomu score for the All Blacks?
He scored 37 tries in 63 Tests for New Zealand between 1994 and 2002.
How many World Cup tries did Jonah Lomu score?
15: seven in 1995 and eight in 1999. Bryan Habana equalled the record in 2015.
What was Jonah Lomu's most famous game?
The 1995 World Cup semi-final against England in Cape Town, when he scored four tries, including the one where he ran over Mike Catt.
Shop the Jonah Lomu Collection
Made to order in the UK, these designs celebrate rugby's first global superstar.
Jonah Lomu Men's Hoodie
£39.99
Jonah Lomu Men's T-Shirt
£29.99
Browse our rugby union collection, or create a custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Richie McCaw Career Story and Jonny Wilkinson Career Story.
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