Lomu died almost broke, trust set up to support sons

Sydney, December 15

All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu, one of the biggest names in rugby, was nearly broke when he died, say the organisers of a trust set up to support his young sons.

Lomu’s sudden death last month at the age of 40, following a long battle with a rare kidney disorder, saw outpourings of sympathy from around the world, not only from sports personalities but heads of state and film stars. But it has since emerged the commercially in-demand personality had few financial assets.

In response, New Zealand Rugby Players Association chief executive Rob Nichol said the Jonah Lomu Legacy Trust had been established by business people and friends of the hulking winger to support his children, Dhyreille, 6, and Brayley, 5.

Nichol said in a NZ radio interview that Lomu’s wealth from a stellar career did not match most people’s expectations and he might have been a victim of his own generosity, where he often helped others at the expense of his own family.

“The estate has to go through a probate period but we don’t see any financial benefit or proceeds going to his family,” Nichol said.

“The impression that he was a global superstar doing all this stuff, I think over time, frankly, it probably wasn’t as substantial as people just assumed.

“Yet he had this sense of pride that he wanted to maintain that he could help everyone, he could help his family and help his community, anyone who came knocking and wanted assistance.

“He’s clearly taken on obligations, financial or otherwise, on behalf of others and that has definitely been at the expense of his family.”

Close friend and fellow All Black Josh Kronfeld told the New Zealand Herald that players of Lomu’s era did not earn huge amounts. “People read what Richie McCaw and Dan Carter make playing for the All Blacks and assume those figures are what Jonah was on from the mid-1990s on but that’s just not right,” Kronfeld said. “That sort of money wasn’t around for any players in our era, including Jonah.”

He said Lomu’s earning potential after retirement was also affected by his health problems.

Nichol said Lomu, hailed as the sport’s first global superstar, was a proud man who did not want to be a burden and felt an obligation “to be the one who helped others as opposed to being the one reaching out for help”.

He said he did not know if Lomu had been “ripped off”.

“We know people are going to have a lot of questions around what has happened and what’s gone on in the past. We just don’t know,” he said. — AFP