Jonah Lomu: The Lost Tapes - Sean Fitzpatrick on narrating new documentary of friend’s life

Jonah Lomu’s legacy still looms large, the rugby star revered for his work and mana both on and off the field. Now, a new documentary, containing previously unreleased raw footage of him and narrated by close friend and teammate Sean Fitzpatrick, looks to give an insight into “Jonah Lomu, the person” in his own words, not just “Jonah Lomu, the rugby icon”.

“It brought back a lot of memories really. It was quite emotional,” All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick said, recalling the time he first viewed the previously unseen tapes of his friend Jonah Lomu.

The former captain was a key figure during Lomu’s meteoric rise to fame in the 1990s and called it an “honour” to be able to contribute to a new one-hour documentary that shares those tapes with the world.

Lomu: The Lost Tapes, isn’t so much a chronicle of Lomu’s career, but more captures the raw and intimate moments from his memorable life, much of it in his own words.

All Blacks Jonah Lomu (left), Sean Fitzpatrick (centre) and Jeff Wilson hold the Bledisloe Cup after beating Australia in Sydney in 1995. New Zealand won the match 34-23. Photo / David Rogers, Allsport

Fitzpatrick said the new doco, to be released February 2 at 9.25pm on Three and Three Now, gives viewers an insight into “a lot of behind-the-scenes things that not many people had seen or knew about in terms of his legacy”.

“New Zealanders treat him as an icon, and so they should, but it’s nice to get a more personal touch in being closer to him really”.

Lomu was born in South Auckland and started his career as a schoolboy at Wesley College, playing for the First XV with impeccable form.

Rapidly rising through the schoolboy channels, he became the youngest-ever test All Black in 1994, aged 19 years, 45 days.

His 63-test career for the All Blacks included 37 tries, countless wins and play that cemented him as a true legend of the game. A debilitating kidney disorder and subsequent ill health led to his death in 2015.

“The first time I saw him play was ’93,” Fitzpatrick recalled.

“We were playing a game in Dunedin, and he was playing in the curtain raiser to New Zealand Secondary Schools.

“He scored four tries, and then in the space of nine months he was in the All Blacks, which was pretty surreal”.

Besides Fitzpatrick, the new documentary features poignant contributions from some of rugby’s most iconic figures, including Ireland rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll, former England captain Will Carling, Tony Underwood (27 England caps) and Frank Bunce (55 New Zealand caps).

Lomu’s family also share deeply personal insights.

“To see the way they spoke about him also I think gives the majority of New Zealanders another insight into where Jonah came from, his humble upbringings, and just how universally revered he is not only in New Zealand but around the world,” Fitzpatrick said.

“I live in London, and over here they still talk about Jonah as if he’s still playing”.

One thing Fitzpatrick thought the tapes would reinforce was something he and his team witnessed over Lomu’s years in the black jersey: his humility.

“Humble” and “caring” and “good with people” were just some of the phrases Fitzpatrick used when talking about Lomu’s nature.

“With us, he wasn’t seen as a global icon or a global superstar, he was just Jonah, and that’s what he wanted.

“He did not want to be treated specially or in any other way, that’s just the way he was, and he was just part of the team”.

Sean Fitzpatrick. Photo / Michael Craig

When referring to his gameplay, Fitzpatrick said Lomu took every opportunity on the field to enhance his play and help the team.

“Ironically, Laurie Mains saying we were going to be the fittest and fastest team in the world in 1995 just played into Jonah’s hands beautifully.

“Just that high-tempo game, quick in terms of the ruck speed and all that, just gave Jonah the space and no one had ever seen that before”.

His legacy remains on the field today through the thousands of Kiwi kids inspired by Lomu’s time in the jersey. Fitzpatrick hopes the tapes will help that continue.

“The influence he is having on the younger generation is still today happening. Young kids through sport can do great things, and Jonah is a shining light of what sport can do to change your life,” he said.

“His legacy continues, and I think these tapes in Jonah’s words are only enhancing what a wonderful human being he was”.

Lomu: The Lost Tapes airs Sunday, February 2 at 9.25pm on Three and Three Now.

Mitchell Hageman joined the Herald’s entertainment and lifestyle team in 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist for Hawke’s Bay Today.