Jonah Lomu: All Blacks Legend, Speed, Health and Legacy

There are rugby legends, and then there’s Jonah Lomu — the man who changed how the world saw the sport. Decades after his blazing runs, his story still pulls you in: the raw speed, the devastating power, and a quiet health battle that shaped his life long after the boots were hung up. This article pieces together the full picture — from his Tongan roots and record-breaking tries to the kidney disease that defined his later years, and how his family remembers him a decade on.

Born: 12 May 1975 · Died: 18 November 2015 · All Blacks caps: 63 · Tries scored: 37 · Height: 1.96 m · Reported 100m time: 10.8 seconds

The table below distills Lomu’s key stats into a single glance.

Why did Jonah Lomu stop playing rugby?

Nephrotic syndrome explained

Jonah Lomu was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome in 1995, a chronic kidney disorder that causes the body to excrete too much protein in urine (The Conversation (academic explainer)). The condition left him fatigued and puffy, and it progressively worsened despite treatment. By 2003, he required dialysis three times a week (NZ History).

The pattern: a brilliant career cut short by an invisible illness.

Kidney transplant and recovery

In 2004, Lomu received a kidney transplant (NZ History). The surgery gave him a second wind — he returned to the field sporadically, playing club and invitation matches until 2010. But the transplant was later rejected, and he returned to dialysis (The New York Times).

Lomu played his last test for New Zealand in 2002 (NZ History), effectively ending his international career years before his official retirement.

Cause of death

Jonah Lomu died on 18 November 2015 in Auckland at age 40. Multiple reports linked his death to cardiac arrest or heart attack associated with kidney disease (The New York Times). His kidney had failed, and the complications were fatal.

How fast could Jonah Lomu run 100m?

Claimed 100m time

Jonah Lomu was widely reported to have run 100 metres in 10.8 seconds (NZ History). That time — if accurate — would have placed him among elite-level sprinters. However, no official athletics federation ever recorded it, and the figure is often repeated as lore rather than verifiable fact.

Comparison with other rugby players

• Gareth Bale (footballer, junior sprinter): 11.1 seconds (unofficial)
• Bryan Habana (Springbok wing): ran 100m in 10.2 seconds on a rugby field in 2007
• Carlin Isles (USA Sevens): 10.13 seconds (professional track)

Fastest rugby players in history

If we set aside Lomu’s 10.8s claim, the fastest measured rugby players include Tonderai Chavhanga (10.8s official), Seabelo Senatla (10.6s), and Benji Marshall (10.9s). Lomu’s speed is best described as elite but untimed in competition.

The implication: Lomu’s legacy of speed rests on the eye test — and the eye test says he was terrifyingly quick for his size.

Is Jonah Lomu Samoan or Tongan?

Samoan heritage

Jonah Lomu’s parents — Soane Lomu and Hepi Lomu — were both Tongan immigrants. He is not Samoan by blood. The confusion often arises because many Pacific Islander rugby players in New Zealand come from Samoa, but Lomu’s lineage is unequivocally Tongan.

Tongan roots

He identified strongly with his Tongan heritage and often spoke about the importance of his culture. He represented New Zealand with pride, but his heart remained tied to the Kingdom of Tonga (NZ History).

New Zealand identity

Born and raised in South Auckland, Lomu was every bit a New Zealander. He is often described as Tongan-New Zealand — a dual identity that he wore openly. His story became a symbol for Pacific Island communities across Aotearoa.

The pattern: Lomu belongs to Tonga by ancestry, New Zealand by upbringing, and the world by his rugby.

Was Jonah Lomu married when he died?

Marriage to Fiona Lomu

Lomu married Fiona Lomu in 1996. They had two sons together. The marriage ended in divorce in 2002 (NZ History).

Later relationships and partners

At the time of his death, he was in a relationship with Nadine Lomu, whom he married in 2013. Nadine was with him through his final health struggles. He also had a third child, a son, with Nadine.

Children

• Brayley Lomu (son, with Fiona)
• Semaj Lomu (son, with Fiona)
• Dhyreille Lomu (son, with Nadine)

What this means: Lomu’s family life was a story of two marriages and three sons. Since his death, his widow Nadine and sons have kept his memory alive, including a public remembrance in 2025 (Te Ao News).

What position did Jonah Lomu play?

Winger role

Jonah Lomu played as a wing — the position on the far edges of the field where speed and finishing ability are critical. He debuted for the All Blacks at age 19 in 1994 against France (Te Ao News).

Try-scoring record

He scored 37 tries in 63 test matches for the All Blacks (NZ History). That tally includes one of the most famous individual performances in rugby history: four tries against England in the 1995 World Cup semifinal.

All Blacks career stats

• Tests: 63 (NZ History count)
• Tries: 37
• Winning record: 49 wins, 13 losses, 1 draw
• Super 12 teams: Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes (NZ History)

The trade-off: Lomu’s position defined his legacy. Wing gave him the space to use his speed, but his size made him an anomaly — a winger built like a forward.

For New Zealand rugby fans and Pacific communities alike, Jonah Lomu’s legacy is double-edged: the trailblazing athlete who brought the sport to millions, and the man whose body gave out far too soon. The takeaway is not sentiment — it’s a call to awareness. Kidney disease remains pervasive among Pasifika populations. Lomu’s story, still being told in 2025 by his family and the media, reminds us that even the strongest frame can fail. For health advocates in New Zealand, the lesson is clear: screen early, act fast, and don’t let a star’s death be the only alarm.