The first crossover star in Rugby Union

Rugby union is a game played in England for over 150 years. Millions of people tune in to watch rugby union games on television, which has birthed some massive stars.

Although it doesn't achieve the same levels of popularity as other sports in the country where it originated, it still enjoys plenty of success.

A good measuring tool to calculate the popularity of particular sports is to establish how big the betting markets are. For example, cricket is one of the biggest gambling markets in Australia. You can find dozens of in-play markets when a big test match is on. However, the gambling market in Australia is enormous and covers a broader range of offers, especially when we consider casino games as well, where companies like Ignition and other reputable names are major market players.

The All Blacks - A Dynasty

Before we discuss the incredible and long-lasting legacy of Jonah Lomu, we will zoom out and take a look at the team where he helped foster his superstardom. For those who aren't rugby union purists, the All Blacks are considered the best international team in rugby union history; they also have unique pre-game rituals, which is again something that has managed to transcend sport - the Haka.

Performed before every game, the traditional Maori dance is designed to strike fear into the hearts of their opponents. However, given the record the All Blacks have pieced together over the last few years, including two World Cups since 2011, it may give them an advantage. The women's team is also highly successful and is currently defending world champions.

While the Haka may or may not strike fear into the hearts of opponents - one man certainly did when they saw his name on the team sheet, the most outstanding winger and player of all time, the late, great Jonah Lomu.

The Legacy of Lomu

Once nicknamed "the freight train in ballet shoes", Lomu was the complete package for a rugby player. He has the agility and speed of a man that was a meter shorter than him, but his 6 foot 5 frames and lightning pace terrified opponents worldwide for years.

It looked like he was playing the game in easy mode at his peak. His presence was awesome, in the truest sense of the word. He was so dominant at the highest level of rugby union that people were perplexed at how agile, fast, and strong he was and how he did it easily.

He recorded a 100-meter time of 11.2 seconds and was utterly unstoppable for somebody of his size and stride. Although he first started in rugby league, he switched to rugby union and never looked back. He got his first cap for the All Blacks at 19, and despite just a handful of appearances, he was included in the World Cup squad in 1995.

This was when Jonah introduced his immense ability to the world. The talismanic New Zealander was the human equivalent of a bulldozer or a tank, but he also had the agility to turn his switch of pace and use his body to evade challenges. As a result, he dominated games single-handedly, and teams could employ no strategy or formula to stop him in his tracks.

Once Lomu exploded onto the scene at the 1995 World Cup, where the Springboks narrowly defeated the All Blacks in the final, even casual sports fans began to take notice of the legendary winger.

The First Crossover Star

Lomu soon began appearing on adverts and TV shows in the United Kingdom, creating an upsurge in people wanting to take up the game. He is so synonymous with the sport that many analysts compared his crossover appeal to legendary athletes such as Muhammad Ali or Babe Ruth.

Watching this man live was magic, and the news of his passing was a sorrowful day for the sport. Rugby union has had some magical players over the years. Some of them could stand shoulder to shoulder regarding the pure skill.

However, if we measure the men based on their crossover appeal and their impact on the sport, Lomu stands head and shoulders above every other rugby union player we have come across. We could wait another 100 years before somebody like Lomu burst onto the scene again, and as time goes by, we realize just how special he was; rest in peace, Jonah.