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Former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew opens up on Jonah Lomu’s final years

Former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew opens up on Jonah Lomu’s final years

By Dhanjay Deo
25/12/2019
[Photo / Photosport: Former All Black Jonah Lomu]

Former All Blacks team doctor John 'Doc' Mayhew has opened up on the challenges surrounding his care of Jonah Lomu before the rugby legend passed away.

During his time with the All Blacks, Mayhew cared for Lomu throughout his weakening kidney disorder which eventually saw him undergo a kidney transplant in 2004.

He said the hardest time was during a game Lomu played for the Barbarians after the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Mayhew says Lomu was incredibly sick before that game and should never have played and no one knew about it.

Mayhew says he told Jonah not to play however he said he needed to as there were people who came watch him play as this match was so soon after the 1995 World Cup.

Mayhew says Lomu didn't want to let people down so he played and played a pretty average game and the English press got into him.

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