Jonah Lomu

Lomu in 2005, photo credit: Bigpip

Birth Name: Jonah Tali Lomu

Date of Birth: 12 May, 1975

Place of Birth: Pukekohe, Auckland, New Zealand

Date of Death: 18 November, 2015

Place of Death: Auckland, New Zealand

Ethnicity: Tongan

Jonah Lomu was a New Zealand professional rugby union player. He was generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union, and played for the Counties Manukau, Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Wellington, Cardiff Blues, North Harbour, and Marseille Vitrolles, and the New Zealand national team. He had sixty-three caps as an All Black (New Zealand national rugby team) after debuting in 1994. One of the sport’s most intimidating players on the field, he had a huge impact on the game, and was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame on 9 October, 2007. He was 6′4″.

His parents were from Holopeka, a village on Lifuka in the Ha’apai Islands. He was mostly raised in Mangere, an Auckland suburb, though he spent some of his early childhood on Holopeka, with his aunt Longo and uncle Mosese. He spoke fluent Tongan, as well as French, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Russian. Jonah was a cousin of rugby union footballer Seti Kiole and rugby football player John Tamanika. He was married to Nadene Quirk, until his death, with whom he had two children.

Jonah’s maternal grandfather was named Vili Kiole Taufa.

Jonah’s maternal grandmother was named Latu Po’ulia Alavala Kiole Anau (the daughter of Netane Anau Mahe). Latu was born in Uiha, Ha’apai, Tonga. Netane was the son of Alisi Kafo’atu Mahe.

Source: Genealogy of Jonah Lomu – http://www.geni.com