Lomu impressed with kids rugby skills

Star struck Rarotonga children fell over themselves to show off their rugby skills to All Blacks legend and Rugby World Cup ambassador Jonah Lomu at a special coaching clinic at the Tupapa field yesterday.

Lomu only spent one day on Rarotonga as part of a 75 strong delegation travelling the Pacific to promote the Rugby World Cup to be staged in New Zealand starting in early September.

The 100 primary school students were treated to a day of rippa rugby with Lomu and fellow All Black Junior Tonuu.

The pair took the children through a fun warm up session before they were engaged in a number of rugby drills.

Throughout the morning of rugby drills, Lomu moved from group to group sharing tips with the kids and even getting in the action where he accidently tackled a young girl who almost swooned not from the knock but from her hero lifting her back to her feet.

Two small games of rippa rugby were played and again Lomu got in the action much to the thrill of the kids on his team.

After the coaching clinic the children gathered around Lomu who told them he was impressed with the skills he saw on the field.

Its really fantastic to see the amount of girls playing rugby and there were some good side steps and passing too, Lomu told the kids who responded with cheers of delight.

The kids were given the opportunity to ask their hero any question they wanted.

The kids asked his age, how many tries hed scored as an All Black, how much weight he can bench press, what positions he played, when did he quit the All Blacks and whether he was keen to hang out in Rarotonga longer.

Lomu responded saying he was 36 years old, scored 36 tries as an All Blacks, bench presses 248kg, played at wing although he started his rugby playing career at loose forward and blind side flanker but unfortunately he commented that he could only spend one day on Rarotonga.

He told the kids he had to return home to support his wife whose grandfather had just died.

He added that he didnt quit rugby and shared his story of overcoming a liver transplant and proving doctors who told him that he would never walk again wrong.

Believe in yourself and dont let anybody tell you what to do except for your parents.

Ive lived my dream and that was to be an All Black you can live your dreams too.

Lomu then signed give away mini ANZ rugby balls before taking part in a public signing session in Avarua hosted by the ANZ Bank as a sponsor of the Rugby World Cup.