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Fans, friends, old rivals saddened by death of Jonah Lomu

In this June 18, 1995 file photo, New Zealand All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu runs around England's Will Carling on his way to score the opening try in the Rugby World Cup semifinal at Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa. Lomu, whose power and pace revolutionized rugby and whose humility and grace won millions of fans, died early Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, New Zealand Rugby said. He was 40. (AP Photo/Ross Setford,File)
In this June 18, 1995 file photo, New Zealand All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu runs around England's Will Carling on his way to score the opening try in the Rugby World Cup semifinal at Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa. Lomu, whose power and pace revolutionized rugby and whose humility and grace won millions of fans, died early Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, New Zealand Rugby said. He was 40. (AP Photo/Ross Setford,File)

By Associated Press 4 min read

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – Jonah Lomu’s huge impact on the game of rugby and his fame, which spilled beyond the sport’s traditional borders, was reflected in the breadth of tributes Wednesday after his unexpected death at the age of 40.

Heads of state, fans, teammates and former rivals expressed shock and sadness at the passing of the legendary All Blacks winger whose revolutionary pace and power made him one of rugby’s most famous names.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said the thoughts of “the entire country are with his family.”

“He truly is and was a legend of the game,” Key told reporters in Manila, where he was attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Addressing New Zealand’s Parliament, Sports Minister Jonathan Coleman made reference to Lomu’s humble beginnings in a working class family in Auckland’s southern suburbs.