Former All Blacks coach Graham Henry has paid tribute to Sione Lauaki after the blockbusting runner passed away, aged 35.
Henry was principal at Kelston Boys' High School when Lauaki was in the first XV and was the All Black coach for the entirety of Lauaki's international career, selecting him on the back of strong performances for the Pacific Islanders team and the Chiefs in 2005.
"He was a very talented rugby player who never reached his potential, and you can probably see why now," Henry told Newshub.
"He obviously had this kidney problem and other health problems, so he wasn't always as fit as he could have been."
Lauaki joined the All Blacks whilst Jerry Collins, Rodney So'oialo and Richie McCaw were at the height of their powers. Henry says this was the reason Lauaki only made 17 appearances for the All Blacks.
"They were the three loose forwards who played most of the Test matches at that time, so it was hard for Sione to break in.
"He had talent, he was a great ball carrier, big strong boy, scored a lot of tries."
Routine tests in 2012 exposed Lauaki's kidney and heart problems, and he was ordered by doctors to stop training and exercising.
Former All Black great Jonah Lomu suffered similar issues, and Henry saw similarities in the two.
"Both young Tongan men who had some challenges health-wise, and it's very sad, another young All Black going like Sione.
"I think it's been pretty well-documented. We didn't know about Jonah when he was playing... Sione probably had similar challenges which he probably didn't know about at the time.
"Then he went to play in France and it was a problem for him over there, so it finished his career. You don't hear about these things once the guy retired, and it is a sad situation and you feel for him and his family."
Lauaki was released by his French club in 2012 and married in Rarotonga in 2014.
Newshub.
