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Former New Zealand All Blacks player Jonah Lomu is seen before the 2011 Rugby World Cup pool A match between New Zealand and Japan at Waikato stadium in Hamilton. (AFP)
New Zealand rugby legend Jonah Lomu has been admitted to hospital suffering from a kidney-related ailment.
The Auckland District Health Board said on Sunday that Lomu was in the renal and liver transplant ward but would not comment on his condition.
The 35-year-old Lomu, who played 63 Tests on the wing for the All Blacks between 1994 and 2002, was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, a serious kidney disorder, in 1995. He received a kidney transplant in 2004.
“I heard that this morning, which is really sad news,” New Zealand assistant coach Steve Hansen said on Sunday. “Our thoughts are with the big fella and hopefully he makes a speedy recovery.”
The Herald on Sunday reported Lomu’s wife, Nadene, as saying: “All I can say is my husband is stable and until we know exactly what’s wrong we are not prepared to comment.”
Last month, Lomu was revealed as one of 12 sports stars who would step into the boxing ring at a charity event in December. He also appeared at the opening ceremony for the ongoing Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and was one of the stars of the tournament in 1995 and 1999.
He attempted a first comeback in 2005 with the Welsh club Cardiff and retired from rugby in 2007 after a spell at North Harbour in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship.
In 2009, he made a brief comeback with third-division French club Marseille.
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