50 Fun Facts About Jonah Lomu

In which New Zealand town was Jonah Lomu born on 12 May 1975?

His parents were Tongan immigrants from Holopeka in the Ha'apai islands, and he spent part of his early childhood there before moving to Mangere in South Auckland.

How old was Jonah Lomu when he became the youngest ever All Black in 1994?

He broke a record held by Edgar Wrigley since 1905, debuting on the wing against France at Lancaster Park in a 22-8 defeat.

How many tries did Jonah Lomu score in the 1995 Rugby World Cup semi-final at Newlands?

His first, when he stumbled and then ran straight over Mike Catt, was voted try of the tournament and prompted commentator Keith Quinn to gasp.

Which opposing player did Jonah Lomu famously run straight over for his first try in the 1995 semi-final?

He had taken a pass behind him and beaten two defenders before the stumble and the trample.

Which opposing captain said of Jonah Lomu in 1995: 'He is a freak and the sooner he goes away the better'?

In 2002 the British public voted Lomu's performance No. 19 in a list of the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments.

How many tries did Jonah Lomu score at the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa?

He had only two caps when picked for the squad; two came against Ireland, one against Scotland and four against England.

How did South Africa beat New Zealand in the 1995 World Cup final at Ellis Park?

Neither side scored a try in the match, and Lomu was kept out by the Springbok defence.

How many Rugby World Cup tries did Jonah Lomu score in total, a record he shares with Bryan Habana?

He needed only two tournaments, 1995 and 1999, to set the mark; Habana equalled it in 2015.

What was Jonah Lomu's final All Blacks record?

He scored against every major test nation except South Africa and Wales.

What was the name of the kidney disorder Jonah Lomu was diagnosed with in 1995?

By 2003 he was on dialysis three times a week, and doctors warned he faced life in a wheelchair without a transplant.

Who donated the kidney that Jonah Lomu received in a July 2004 transplant?

Kereama was a long-time friend, and the two were reunited on New Zealand's This Is Your Life in 2007.

Which Australian journalist coined the description of Jonah Lomu as a 'freight train in ballet shoes'?

'Other players could go through players, other players could go around players... Lomu could do it all,' he explained.

How much did Jonah Lomu weigh at his playing peak?

At 1.96 metres tall he could still run 100 metres in 11.2 seconds, and he was the first truly massive wing.

How fast could Jonah Lomu run 100 metres in his final year at school?

At Wesley College he also competed in shot put, javelin, high jump, hurdles and relay.

Which Auckland school did Jonah Lomu's mother send him to after gang violence in Mangere?

Counties Manukau coach Ross Cooper first spotted him playing there in 1991.

In which position did Jonah Lomu begin his rugby union career before switching to the left wing?

He called the switch to the wing 'the best move he could have made', but would occasionally fill in at number 8 for Zinzan Brooke.

Which sevens star played touch with a 14-year-old Jonah Lomu and invited him to a Singapore tournament?

Lomu later filled in for Rush, who broke his leg, as New Zealand won the 2001 Sevens World Cup.

Which sport did Jonah Lomu play first as a youngster, before switching codes?

His introduction to union came at a tournament in Te Kuiti, where he stayed with the son of All Black legend Colin Meads.

Which tournament first brought Jonah Lomu to international attention in 1994?

He had already represented New Zealand at under-19 and under-21 level.

Which Super 12 team did Jonah Lomu win the competition's inaugural 1996 final with?

He later played for the Chiefs and Hurricanes too, as well as Counties Manukau, Wellington and North Harbour at provincial level.

At which Commonwealth Games did Jonah Lomu win a gold medal in rugby sevens?

He had missed the 1997 Tri Nations while recovering from his kidney diagnosis but rejoined the All Blacks for the end-of-year tour.

How many tries did Jonah Lomu score at the 1999 Rugby World Cup?

Two came in the semi-final against France, but the French won 43-31 and New Zealand went home.

Which team beat New Zealand 43-31 in the 1999 World Cup semi-final despite two Lomu tries?

Afterwards there was speculation he might switch to the NFL or the English Premiership, but he went home to New Zealand.

How many people watched the 2000 Tri Nations opener dubbed the 'match of the century', won by Jonah Lomu's late try?

With the Wallabies leading 35-34, he brushed past Stephen Larkham to tip-toe down the line and score.

Which Wallaby did Jonah Lomu brush past to score the winning try in the 2000 'match of the century'?

New Zealand had scored three tries in the first five minutes before Australia clawed level by half-time.

Against which northern-hemisphere nation did Jonah Lomu score eight test tries, his most?

He never scored against South Africa in 12 matches, nor against Wales in three.

Which two major test nations did Jonah Lomu never score a try against?

He faced the Springboks 12 times without a try, and Wales three times.

Jonah Lomu played his last All Blacks tests in November 2002 against which three teams?

He scored twice in a 31-28 loss to England, drew with France for the first time in 96 years, then beat Wales 43-17.

Which Welsh club did Jonah Lomu join for his 2005-06 comeback after his transplant?

He first needed WADA clearance because one of his anti-rejection drugs was a banned substance; he played 10 games and scored one try in Wales.

Which New Zealand provincial side signed Jonah Lomu to a two-year deal in April 2005?

He missed the first season after injuring his shoulder scoring a try in a testimonial against Martin Johnson's XV, and worked as a coach instead.

Which NRL club offered Jonah Lomu a contract that he turned down because of his union sponsorships?

He retired from professional rugby in 2007 at 32 after failing to win a Super 14 contract for a World Cup push.

In September 2009, Jonah Lomu finished second in two categories of what kind of amateur contest?

Two months later he joined French Fédérale 1 club Marseille Vitrolles, starting at centre before moving to number 8.

What did McDonald's New Zealand do in 1996 to honour Lomu?

The line was known as the 'Mega Feast' in New Zealand at the time.

Besides English and Tongan, Jonah Lomu learned to speak which of these languages?

He also had a working knowledge of Russian and described himself as a lover of languages.

Which BBC award did Jonah Lomu receive in December 1995 after his World Cup displays?

The award goes to a non-British sportsperson who has captured the imagination of the British public.

Which actor portrays Jonah Lomu in the film Invictus, about the 1995 World Cup?

The film follows Nelson Mandela and the Springboks; Lomu also lent his name to the video games Jonah Lomu Rugby and Rugby Challenge.

Where did Jonah Lomu marry his second wife Fiona in a secret ceremony in August 2003?

He was married three times; his first wife, South African Tanya Rutter, was never accepted by his family.

On what date did Jonah Lomu die in Auckland from a heart attack linked to his kidney disease?

He had flown home the previous night from promotional work at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in the UK; Queen Elizabeth II was among those paying tribute.

At which stadium was a public memorial service for Jonah Lomu held twelve days after his death in 2015?

His boyhood primary school performed a haka in tribute, and the New Zealand Parliament passed a national motion honouring his life.

What did the New Zealand Rugby Players' Association set up a month after Lomu's death to support his sons?

He died with few assets despite earning millions, his money absorbed by divorces, medical bills and failed businesses.

In which year was Jonah Lomu inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame?

The IRB Hall of Fame followed in 2011, and in 2024 he was an inaugural inductee into the Pasifika Rugby Hall of Fame.

Which honour was Jonah Lomu appointed to in the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours?

The citation was for services to rugby, the year he retired from the professional game.

Lomu's parents emigrated from Holopeka, a village on which Tongan island?

He spent part of his early childhood there with his aunt Longo and uncle Moses.

Which Counties Manukau coach first spotted Lomu at Wesley College and later helped select him for the All Blacks?

Cooper gave him his senior provincial debut against Horowhenua in May 1994.

Which second-division Wellington club did Lomu join in the 1999 off-season, scoring twice on debut?

He wore the club's green and black socks when he played for the Barbarians in 2000.

Which French Fédérale 1 club did Lomu join in November 2009, playing centre and number 8 on debut?

The 64–13 win over Montmelian saw him return to number 8, his position as a youngster.

Lomu's first wife, Tanya Rutter, whom he married in 1996, was from which country?

His family never approved of the relationship, and they divorced after four years.

Which faith did Lomu and his wife Nadene join in 2012?

He was also a member of Champions for Peace, a Monaco-based group of elite athletes.

In which language did Lomu have working proficiency, beyond fluency in several others?

Besides English and Tongan he learned French, Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese.

How much funding did the New Zealand Film Commission give the 2026 documentary Lomu, which his widow opposed?

It premiered on 1 August 2026 at Auckland's Civic Theatre.