Lomu's legacy will continue

Jonah Lomu (middle) and Ian Jones acknowledge the crowd in Sydney after an All Blacks' win against Wallabies.

Hayden Taylor recalls climbing on Jonah Lomu's back to stop the All Black legend from scoring but instead he was carried all the way to the tryline.

Gus Collins still has a scar on his chest after Lomu bumped and ran over the top of him.

The former Northland and Blues' representatives were among thousands paying tribute to Lomu who unexpectedly passed away in Auckland yesterday at the age of 40.

Jonah Lomu charges over England player Jonny Wilkinson (bottom) and Matt Dawson (left) during their international rugby clash at Twickenham in 2002.

A veteran of 73 tests for the All Blacks between 1994 and 2002, Lomu suffered from the rare kidney disorder known as nephrotic syndrome and had a kidney transplant in 2004, which assisted his battle for seven and a half years. But his body rejected the replacement organ in 2011 and he was hooked up to a dialysis machine three times a week, six hours a day.

Taylor first encountered Lomu at Kamo High School grounds in 1993 during a secondary schools' rugby final.

Taylor played first-five for Kamo that day while Lomu captained Wesley College from Auckland in the No8 jersey.

"I climbed on his back in our 22 after he'd run over most of our team and he dragged me to the tryline. His physicality was just amazing," Taylor recalled.

Both later ended up playing for the Blues under the tutelage of Sir Graham Henry.

"He (Lomu) had a great demeanour, he was very passionate, very polite, and was someone we looked up to."

Collins played with him in the Jonah Lomu XV against the Martin Johnson XV in Twickenham in 2005 and said the former All Black was a humble man who had time for everyone he met.

Both were also on a rugby tour in Australia and Collins remembered Lomu buying food and drinks for a couple of homeless people they met on the street.

"There were a few guys who were 118 and 120 kilos but none played on the wing and none could run as fast as he him but the most special thing about him was his speed and balance, " Collins said.

"I was a fairly reasonable defender and there was an occasion when he ran straight into me, bumped me, and stood on my chest as he ran over the top of me - I still have the scar."

Kamo kid and former ABs' backrower Ian Jones said Lomu's death was was hard to believe. Jones said rugby followers the world over would be saddened by the death of a man they adored, both on and off the field.

"His legacy will live long. It's devastating for his family. The impression he made on people around the world had been phenomenal. It's a hell of a sad news ... hard to take it all in. As a player and a team mate, he was phenomenal, a powerful player and it was great for me to see those qualities first-hand playing alongside him."

Jones and Lomu played for the All Blacks at the 1995 RWC and for the Barbarians in 2000.

Tributes also flowed from outside the rugby fraternity.

Northland MP and New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, said Lomu was to rugby what Mohammed Ali was to boxing.

"When he was well and fit he was simply the greatest rugby player we have ever seen. We pass on our condolences to his New Zealand and Pacific Islands family and friends."

Lomu had recently been in England with his family during the Rugby World Cup. He is survived by his wife Nadene and their young sons Brayley, 6, and Dhyreille, 5.