Many of my
friends in Asia are often surprised by the fact that although I’ve lived in
England for most of my formative years, I’m not much of an “Anglophile.”
However, there is one aspect of Anglo-Saxon culture that I’ve adopted and grown
to love – that it the game of rugby. For me, rugby union as a game, embodies
many of the values of the British and their rougher cousins, the Australians,
New Zealanders and South Africans – namely the ability to tack a few knocks,
get up again and somehow play a good game. As I get older, I appreciate the
game all the more because, it seems to me that the guys playing rugby union
have stayed far more true to the values of what sport should be – namely friendly
free flowing competition that brings out the best in people. Although rugby
union has become a professional sport, you hear allot less of the “gamesmanship,”
“money politics” and “steroid abuse” in rugby union than you get in soccer or
American football.
So, it was
really sad to read about the demise of Jonah Lomu last weekend (November 18,
2015). Jonah Lomu was, as they say ‘rugby’s first superstar.’ Mr. Lomu was what
nice people would call a “freak of nature.” He was physically imposing (6.5
feet tall and over kg). Yet, despite being huge, he was quick and agile. The
man could run the 100 metre sprint in less than 11 seconds (pretty darn good
for a non-Olympian and bloody amazing for a man that size.)
When Mr.
Lomu broke onto the scene in the 1995 World Cup in South Africa, he became an
overnight sensation. His ability to cut through defences and score tries was
sensational. Much as it pains most Englishmen to admit it, nobody can forget
the way the English national team got blown away by Mr. Lomu in their
semi-final encounter. The images of him leaving Mike Catt and Tony Underwood
(English rugby players who are by no means puny characters) sprawling on the ground
as they tried to stop the rampaging Mr. Lomu are etched in minds of ever rugby
purist.
What made
Lomu’s prominence so significant was the fact that he game at a time when Rugby
Union was an amateur game. The laws of the game were such that the superstars
of the game were simply not allowed to earn a penny from playing rugby. The
laws on amateurism were such that the ruby players weren’t even supposed to
make money from endorsements through the fame of playing rugby. At best, one
could use rugby union was a means of getting into the semi-pro code of Rugby
League or even American Football.
Jonah Lomu’s
performance of the ruby union world cup in 1995 helped to bring rugby to the
world and attracted commercial opportunities. The Dallas Cowboys, one of the
NFL’s most famous sides, offered him $10 million. He was also offered an
opportunity to commercialise and profit from the try that he scored against
England.
Jonah Lomu
turned down the money. He wouldn’t change codes even though the money offered
by the Cowboys was far more than what he could have earned in a lifetime of
playing ruby (even today, rugby salaries don’t even come close). He said quite
openly that he was there to be part of the All Blacks.
Most interestingly,
he turned down the opportunity to commercialise on the image of him running
through the English line during the 1995 World Cup – his reason was simple, he
didn’t want to cause pain to Mike Catt, the English player that he ran over on
the way to scoring that try.
Many
celebrities including sports stars to charity work and support causes. Jonah
Lomu was more than that. He was a man who turned down greater commercial opportunities
for the love of his game and his respect for his fellow players.
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