Pretoria - Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula has described the late rugby player Jonah Lomu as one of the greatest players of our time.
“Lomu was regarded as one of the greatest rugby players of our times. Many rugby careers across the world have been shaped with Lomu as the role model,” said Minister Mbalula on Wednesday.
The left wing died at his home in Auckland, New Zealand, at the age of 40 on Wednesday. He had been fighting kidney disease.
Minister Mbalula said he was saddened by his passing away.
“He was one of our most influential and powerful players. We send our condolences to his rugby home the All Blacks, to his family and friends and to all rugby-loving people. The world mourns with you,” Minister Mbalula said.
Lomu rose to stardom in the 1995 Rugby World Cup which was hosted in South Africa. He played for New Zealand from 1995 to 2002 and was capped 63 times.
In 2011, he was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame for his contribution to the Rugby World Cup. – SAnews.gov.za
