Jonah Tali lomu

Jonah Lomu Playing Rugby (http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/7418 ())

Jonah Tali lomu was born in Auckland, his family was from tonga but he called New Zealand home. His childhood was tough with a lot of violence from his father and in the streets of South Auckland where he grew up. A rival Samoan group of men murdered Jonah's uncle in front of him when he was only age 7. This and beatings from his own father saw Jonah start to get in with the wrong crowds. No one knew why but he always came to school with bruises because of his dad smacking him.

Jonah's Mum knew his son had speed and strength and he was beginning to be recognised for his ability in rugby. The discipline from sport helped him control his anger. When he was 10 years old he had size 12 feet. When I was 10 I had size 4 feet! And at the age of 12 he could be mistaken for 18. His mates would always get scared of Jonah tackling them because they were a lot smaller and weaker than he was. Jonah lomu was really quick for a big man like him, you would expect him to get tired really quickly but he joined the athletics club, he was amazing.

His mother sent Jonah to Wesley College and this school was the making of the man! It was safe and he quickly started to chase his dream of becoming an All Black. It had always been Jonah's dream to play for the All Blacks he would watch every game. As Jonah Lomu grew up he played for Wesley College his school as a lock and loose forward. After that, he intimidated schoolboy opponents and was named as a New Zealand Schoolboy Representative. He burst into the world stage when he played as a young 18 year old in the New Zealand 7's men's team. He was unstoppable and the world started to realize there was a new star! Jonah became the youngest ever All Black at 18 years and 40 days old. He then went to the 1995 World Cup where he became the most famous player on the planet, he was unstoppable. The world had not seen anything like him!!

Jonah Lomu (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/ ())

After the World Cup in 1995 where he became famous and a year later he got diagnosed with very rare and serious kidney disease. This made him take time off the sport he loved. He did not play in the 1997 Tri Nation series but, was included in the All Black tour of the Northern Hemisphere at the end of that year. Jonah did not tell anyone about his illness and continued playing and running over and around people. His condition continued to get worse and he was forced to withdraw in 2002 as his kidneys had failed and he needed a transplant. Grant Kereama, a radio host, donated his kidney and Jonah's health improved and he attempted to play rugby again but he broke his leg and retired. He was so famous that he was able to use his fame to help charities for sick people. He got married to Nadene Quirk and had two boys and continued to work with youth and charities right up to his unexpected death from heart failure after he returned from the 2015 World Cup.

Jonah was a star like no other in rugby but I remember him for helping others and being a kind and good person. My brothers still watch videos of the greatest All Black of all time!!