Why they rank here
The player who made rugby a global commercial phenomenon and redefined what a wing could be. At the 1995 World Cup, an unstoppable 19-stone 20-year-old ran through the world's best defences, scoring four tries in the semi-final demolition of England and terrorising every opponent with a blend of sprinter's pace and prop's power never seen before. Lomu scored 37 tries in 63 Tests and holds the record, shared with Bryan Habana, for most World Cup tries with 15 across the 1995 and 1999 tournaments. He never won the World Cup — New Zealand lost the 1995 final to South Africa — and a rare kidney disorder eventually cut short his career and, tragically, his life at 40. But his impact transcended silverware: he was rugby's first true superstar, the man who proved the professional game could sell out stadiums and captivate audiences far beyond its traditional heartlands.
Career profile
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