Biography

Jonah turned down a multi-million dollar offer to play American football.

Jonah is a giant New Zealand rugby player regarded as one of the world's best players ever. Bizarrely, Jonah plays as a winger - a position usually occupied by the lightest and smallest players. On his best form, it can take 4 or more players to bring Jonah down.

He was offered the role of the villain Gabor in the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough (1999), however, he declined in order to concentrate fully on his rugby career. The role was then given to former Gladiator John Seru (a.k.a. 'Vulcan').

Jonah has a wax likeness of himself at Madame Tussauds in London.

Has the number 11 - which is his famous playing number - tattooed on his muscular chest.

For me to get through the toughest periods in my life, I had to look within to find the energy to do it. I don't give up. Never have. Never will.

Each haka has its own interpretation, but you have to make sure you are in unison with your team-mates; the haka should be a proper war cry.

The biggest thing for me is just to get out on that field. Just to do that will be incredible.

It's been a long road back to health and fitness for me. I am just glad to have been given the opportunity to do what I love most.

How do I take a step? How do I lift my foot off the ground, move it through the air a little bit and then bring it down? I had to teach myself to walk again.