Sione Lauaki
1981-2017
Sir Graham Henry and griefstricken teammates of former All Black Sione Lauaki were shocked to learn the bustling forward had died from apparent kidney and heart failure.
Former All Blacks coach Henry told the Herald the 35-year-old’s death overnight yesterday was a surprise.
“I don’t think anyone suspected this — some of the players may have known — but it’s just very sad, you don’t expect anyone his age to have heart problems. It’s very sad for his wife and family.”
Lauaki, who stood at more than 6ft 4in (1.92m), was diagnosed with kidney and heart problems in 2012, forcing him to stop playing professional rugby for Top 14 club Bayonne after initially moving to France to play for Clermont Auvergne in 2010.
He was reported to be living in Rarotonga with his wife after his retirement from rugby.
Henry indicated there were no signs Lauaki had serious health problems during his tenure with the All Blacks from 2005 to 2008.
The former principal of Kelston Boys High School was coaching Wales when Lauaki emerged from the same school to make his debut for Auckland in 2002.
The Tongan-born forward played 17 tests, was part of the squad for the 2007 World Cup, and started at No 8 during the third test of the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to NZ.
“He was a big boy, a big No 8, touching on 120kg, that was his best position — a very explosive player.”
After some fitness and commitment doubts early in his professional career, Lauaki began gaining attention after his debut for the Chiefs in Super Rugby in 2004, and his test debut against Fiji at Albany in 2005.
Lauaki also had issues away from rugby. In February 2006 he admitted assaulting a security officer in Hamilton, while in January 2009 he had to undergo anger management after trashing an Auckland motel. Sione Lauaki was an explosive and popular player.
In 2010 he was convicted of careless driving and assault after punching a man twice at a Hamilton bar, and in 2014 he was convicted of wilful damage after ripping out a CCTV camera in an Auckland taxi.
But former teammate and All Blacks fullback Israel Dagg told Newstalk ZB Lauaki was a “quiet man”.
“But on the field, he was absolutely dominant . . . I’ve got this video in my mind of when he absolutely threw [former All Blacks captain] Richie McCaw 10 metres. “He was a big man with a big heart.” Yesterday, the Chiefs paid tribute to Lauaki, who was capped 70 times for the Hamilton-based franchise, by dedicating the rest of their Brisbane Global Rugby Tens campaign to the athletic back-rower — and the 33-5 victory in their quarter-final against the Queensland Reds yesterday.
Chiefs captain Liam Messam was given the option to fly home after the game, but has opted to stay on and play in the semifinal against the Bulls.
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew also expressed his condolences and said Lauaki’s young age meant his death “will be felt with an even greater sense of tragedy”.
Several All Blacks, including Dan Carter, Piri Weepu, Cory Jane, Adam Thompson and Sonny Bill Williams, left tributes to Lauaki on social media yesterday. — Additional reporting AAP