Legend Jonah’s extraordinary act of generosity is remembered
IT would be wrong to suggest the email was sent from Aberavon Naval RFC with any degree of confidence about a positive response.
The odds on a world rugby superstar agreeing to put in an appearance at a tiny Welsh club for no obvious gain to himself are pretty long, after all.
But the email went off to Jonah Lomu’s agent, anyway, and it wasn’t long before a reply bounced back, which can be roughly summarised thus: “Yes, Jonah would be delighted to come over to see you. Yes, he would be delighted to take a training session. No, he doesn’t want an appearance fee nor a bean in expenses.
“What date works best for you guys?”
And so it was that the legendary All Black not only rocked up for the aforementioned training session in 2008, he also went out afterwards for a few beers with the club’s players and returned a couple of months later to actually pull on the team’s blue colours in a match which raised thousands of pounds for a local charity.
Tragically, he passed away way too soon in 2015, leaving behind a wife and two sons.
Now some of those involved in that game 10 years ago are behind a charity match played at Aberavon Harlequins next month, the aim of which is to raise money for the great man’s children, with all proceeds donated to the Jonah Lomu Legacy Trust .
Call it a thank-you for the big man’s selflessness and generosity back in the day.
This is the story of the link between a legend and a small Welsh club.
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
Aberavon Naval were going through a tough time.
Results weren’t brilliant and player numbers were dropping.
The club needed a tonic, but no-one could think from where it would come.
Then someone had the bright idea to see if Jonah Lomu would put in an appearance and galvanise things.
Stuart Broad, a player back then who is helping to organise next month’s game, takes up the story.
“About 10 years ago it was getting a bit tough for the club and a few of us sat down and were trying to think of ways of giving things a bit of a kick-start. The idea was to think outside the box and look to get a positive vibe around the club,” said Broad.
“We were a bit low on players and felt we needed to do something to attract people.
“We had heard the story of Jerry Collins turning up at a club in the west of England (Barnstaple RFC) and playing for their seconds and wondered if there was someone who might do something similar for us.
“One guy suggested we contact Jonah Lomu’s agent to see if he’d come down to the club.
“It was a bit of a long shot, but we had nothing to lose and make contact we did.
“To our surprise, the agent got back to say Jonah would be up for it and would get in touch the next time he was in the UK.”
Clear the decks: Jonah Lomu was coming to Port Talbot.
A LEGEND PLAYS FOR TINY WELSH CLUB
Excitement rippled around the town and plans were set in place for the man who once trampled all over England’s defence – Mike Catt said 20 years later he could still hear his footsteps – to share a few of his secrets with the folk of Aberavon.
The event was a roaring success.
“He held a masterclass training session in front of a thousand people,” continues Broad.
“The session wasn’t just for our players. Children from local schools attended and loads of others came along.
“Adam Jones, the former Ospreys, Wales and Lions prop, came down to watch.
“It captured the imagination of everyone.
“Shortly afterwards, we ended the losing run we’d be on, so it helped in that respect. It gave everyone at the club and in the town a huge lift.”
A PINT WITH THE BOYS
There is an old adage which suggests you should never meet your heroes. They might not be that heroic in the flesh, after all. They might actually be a spectacular disappointment. It does happen.
But Lomu was better than anyone had dared hope.
Not only was he was accommodating, he was self-deprecating.
He was funny. He fitted in. He was as much a real deal as a person as he was as a rugby player.
“A few of the boys went with Jonah to The Amazon pub in Port Talbot for a few beers afterwards and it was brilliant. There are some great pictures of him pulling pints behind the bar,” says Broad.
“He could not have been more humble.
“We’d all read that he was a gentle giant and he fitted that description perfectly.
“He fitted in with all the lads and was just so comfortable with everyone.
“You wouldn’t have believed you were sitting next to a world rugby icon, the game’s first global superstar, perhaps.
“Justin Marshall tells a great story about when a few of them were out in a nightclub and Mariah Carey was there.
“She spotted Jonah and came over to ask if she could have a photo taken with him.
“That’s how well-known he was.
“And he was sitting next to us in The Amazon.
“Before he left that night, he
said: ‘The next time I’m in town I’ll play for the team if you want me to’.”
SMELLING SALTS AND ALL THAT
Lomu duly stuck to his word.
On November 21, 2008, he featured for Aberavon Naval in a charity game against a Port Talbot XV, with the proceeds going to charity.
The match was played at Talbot Athletic Ground, home of Aberavon RFC. Quite how the opposition players felt that day is hard to say.
Back in the day, Lomu had terrified opponents with his relentless power and pace that saw him accelerate as effortlessly as the Lamborghini he loved to drive.
Some players quivered and failed the Lomu challenge miserably.
Others like former Wales flanker Mark Bennett passed it.
He had pledged to put in one really big hit on the phenomenon who was the talk of th 1995 Rugby World Cup, and when Wales played New Zealand in the pool stage he got his big chance.
“He smashed him,” reported a team-mate.
But not all are as brave as Bennett. And not all defended as well as him, either, that night in Aberavon.
“Jonah was in his early 30s then and still hugely powerful,” says Broad.
“At one point he charged into the opposition defence and one guy went flying backwards.
“They had to bring smelling salts onto the field to revive him.”
POST SCRIPT
Lomu died from a heart attack associated with a long-term kidney problem in November 2015, leaving behind wife Nadene and sons Dhyreille and Brayley.
The New Zealand Rugby Players Association founded the Jonah Lomu Legacy Trust, a fund to help provide financial stability for his two boys.
“A couple of us decided to see if we could do something as a means of saying thanks for what Jonah did for us all those years ago,” says Broad.
“So we’re having a Jonah Lomu legacy match at Aberavon Harlequins rugby ground.
“Some of the boys who used to play for us when Jonah came to the club are coming out of retirement to play.
“I’m sure there will be a good turnout.
“There are some great people in Aberavon and all over Wales who I’m certain will want to pay tribute to a great man.”