The Jonah and Junior show

Rugby superstar Jonah Lomu and ex-All Black Junior Tonu’u mix it with the CISA boys

Thursday was a great morning for the young kids of the primary schools around the island as they got together at the Victoria Park and had the chance to play a game of rip a tag rugby with former all black rugby stars Jonah Lomu and Ofisa Junior Tonu’u themselves. The event started at 8.30 in the morning with the rugby stars taking the primary students through drills to get the day started, also with the CISA boys had a fun match and drills with the stars later on in the morning as well. Since the arrival of the stars from Wednesday night there has been a special kind of buzz going around the island with the locals and visitors alike. Sadly Jonah flew back to New Zealand Thursday night due to family a tragedy. Jonah was very happy to be able to come to the Cook Islands again. The CISA boys and Air New Zealand flight team were also taking part in the in guiding the young primary children and receiving tips themselves from the stars on how to better their performance. Thankfully for the rest of the public ANZ bank held a autograph opportunity with the rugby stars and former NZ Test cricket star, now World Rugby Cup CEO Martin Snedden at 12pm across from the Banana Court, people came pouring in from work on their lunch breaks to get a autograph and a picture or two.
Jonah who played rugby union for New Zealand had sixty-three caps as an All Black after debuting in 1994. He is generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union, and also one of the sport’s most intimidating players on the field, he has had a huge impact on the game and was also inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame. On the 9th of October 2007.Lomu burst onto the international rugby scene during the 1994 Hong Kong Sevens tournament and was widely acknowledged to be the top player at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa even though New Zealand lost the final to the host Springboks. At one time Jonah was considered ‘rugby union’s biggest draw card’, swelling attendances at any match where he appeared. He has played for several provincial teams, in the Super Rugby and NPC competitions. These included the Blues, Chiefs and Hurricanes, and Counties Manukau, Wellington and later North Harbour. He made a comeback after undergoing a kidney transplant in 2004.

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