Jonah Lomu’s widow Nadene has penned an emotional letter to the winger on the anniversary of his sad passing seven years ago.
Lomu passed away in November 2015, aged 40.
She wrote on Facebook: “Dear Jonah,
If only wishes came true, mine would be for us to do what we always did together and drive, it wouldn’t matter where just as long as we were together…I know you would bring Rome-Eo to see us too! Even if it meant I had to pick you up from Heaven and return you back I would. I’d only return you two because I had too.
To spend one more moment with you, even if only for a short time back on earth I know you would sort everything and everyone out that has ever done us wrong and remains too yet would never be bold enough to take you on if you were still here by my side!
All you ever did was protect us and live for us. We were the best team ever and we had the work hard play harder balance perfected!
The heartbreak I’ve endured since loosing you my love, a bond so strong, no matter where I go or what direction I take, you will always be in my heart and your son’s Brayley and Dhyreille’s too everywhere they go.
This week I thought I was doing well, focusing on work, listing properties, negotiations with another listing under offer and even launching merch in France to pay homage to you because so many of your fanfam all over the world adore you and miss you…
Juggling my mumlife duties with everything else then I had to talk about you and today marking the worst day of my life! Straight after I hung up the call two days ago I broke down in tears and everything came flooding back, struggling to speak, to breath and even keep working. I couldn’t even type I was so upset…people were counting on me to make deals happen for them. I sobbed and sobbed, I felt sick to my stomach to the point where I was gagging, all I wanted to do was curl up, close my laptop, not have to make any more work calls and sleep right through to get past this day Jonah. A day I still struggle to acknowledge but I knew I couldn’t sleep through it all, I just couldn’t!
They say time heals and that it gets easier but 7 years today Jonah and I still have my sobbing moments where I’m left thinking I shouldn’t be like this, I should be stronger and not an emotional wreck like I have been this last week…I wish I could visit you in Heaven Jonah, I really do; for you to hold me tight once more and to feel your love again.
The last few nights I’ve cried myself to sleep and tonight will be no different.
To everyone that has lost a loved one; love hurts, infact love breaks us and my thoughts are with you all. To those with your loved ones still around, be grateful and cherish every moment together because you never know when it will be your last!
Jonah, I will always defend your honor as promised, continue to build upon your phenomenal legacy; to my last breath I will stand true and fight to execute your every wish and I will no longer be intimidated and bullied any more than what I’ve been forced to endure.
While I sob with heartbreak, agony and sorrow today and many other days because you are not here with us; I know I will be stronger again soon and with your sons by my side, we stand for you Jonah and everything you believed and wanted us to be!
I miss you so much Jonah, we will never stop missing you!
“Love Always and Forever, your miracle boys and ME!”
Jonah Lomu facts:
- Playing on the wing Lomu finished his international career with 63 caps and 37 tries
- He became the youngest ever All Black when he played his first international in 1994 at the age of 19 years and 45 days
- Lomu was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame on 9 October 2007, and the IRB Hall of Fame on 24 October 2011
- In 1996, McDonald’s New Zealand named a burger after Lomu, temporarily rebranding the McFeast burger line (called “Mega Feast” in New Zealand) as the “Jonah Burger”
- On 9 April 2007, Lomu appeared on New Zealand’s version of This Is Your Life, in which he was reunited with long time friend Grant Kereama, who had donated a kidney to Lomu when he underwent a kidney transplant in July 2004
- Lomu lent his name to various video games including Jonah Lomu Rugby
Jonah Lomu picked an incredible dream team weeks before his death in 2015
All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu selected his all-time Dream Team for a French magazine and it’s an incredible line-up of legends.
The giant All Blacks wing was rugby’s first global star. He burst on the scene at the 1995 World Cup with some of the most destructive performances the rugby world had ever seen and with professionalism in its infancy Lomu became rugby’s first millionaire.
Six years ago today, he died unexpectedly on 18 November 2015 after suffering a heart attack associated with his kidney condition .
Shortly before his death, the superstar named his dream selection of his favourite players
Lomu reveal his toughest opponent ever was France international and father of current France star Romain, Émile Ntamack, before naming a star-studded selection.
Here’s what he had to say about Ntamack.
“When your taught to defend against someone you’re told to watch his hips because it’s the one place on the body when you’re running that stays in one place,” said Lomu.
“The problem with Émile was his whole body shifted, including his hips, meaning when he ran he swayed from side to side so I was always like what the the hell am I going to do here.”
Now, without further delay, here’s how Lomus’s phenomenal XV looked: