All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu is staying tight-lipped to most of the media about his hospital stay, but his story has reportedly been sold to a popular women’s magazine.
The Auckland District Health Board (DHB) says it can confirm Lomu is in its care, but the family have requested privacy from curious media.
A DHB spokesman says staff became aware of journalists visiting Auckland City Hospital this week at the family’s request.
“We understand they’re from (New Zealand) Women’s Weekly,” the spokesman told NZN.
There’s been no official word from the magazine on whether a deal has been inked with the 36-year-old rugby star, who’s currently in a stable condition in the renal and transplant unit.
The All Blacks took time out of their Rugby World Cup training schedule on Wednesday to send a get-well message to their former teammate.
The team, their coaches and Rugby Union staff spelt out a message with huge letters reading “Get well Jonah, Kia Kaha”.
Last month, Lomu announced he would fight Warriors wing Manu `The Beast’ Vatuvei in the boxing ring as part of charity event Fight For Life.
Organisers are hoping the headliner will be fighting fit in time for the December 3 bout, but Lomu’s wife, Nadine, told the New Zealand Herald she couldn’t confirm if her husband would be in the ring.
Lomu’s last public appearance was a starring role at the Rugby World Cup opening ceremony at the beginning of September.
Prime Minister John Key is hoping to make time to visit Lomu, who was diagnosed in 1995 with a kidney disorder known as nephrotic syndrome.
He had a kidney transplant in 2004 after ZM radio host Grant Kereama became his donor.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
While I feel every sympathy for Jonah Lomu in his plight and I am aware that he is seriously ill, I have some annoyance with the selling of the story (his illness) to a magazine. I know I will upset a multitude of readers but I'm a bit over Lomu as a legend etc. He was a good rugby player and was really great for a short period of time (IMO he is not the best winger to have played) contrary to other opinions. Since he has retired he has become a media circus, with clamerings about what he is doing in his life from one minute to the next. He seems to earn a living by doing media photo shoots etc and going on about his playing days and maybe taking up a contract with some rugby club somewhere, or having a boxing match with some other so called celebrity. Obviously he make some serious money doing this type of thing, to be able to jet around the world etc and live the life that I would only dream about. However I would probably just like to remember him as a great player for a short period of time with the All Blacks and not see him as a has-been parading around at WC opening etc. Why doesn't he take the money that he has earned and buy a little business somewhere and retire to raise a family like most of us do after our glory days. Just recently he became the but of jokes about his lack of rhythm at the WC opening ceremony, it's a bit sad really, every day he gets to look more like a "Joe Louis" and how he ended up. Retire Jonah and let us remember your glory days as you were not how you have become.