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Lomu jersey outsells other sporting royalty at Robin Williams auction

Jonah Lomu in full flight, back in the day. (Photo by Stu Forster/Allsport)
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An All Blacks jersey gifted to late actor Robin Williams by rugby great Jonah Lomu has sold at auction for close to NZ$6000.

The framed jersey – signed by the 1998 All Blacks team – was one of 310 items up for auction at Sotheby’s.

The proceeds from the auction will go to the Muhammad Ali Foundation.

The Lomu jersey far exceeded the expected sale price of $300-$500 and made more than a Cleveland Cavaliers NBA singlet signed by LeBron James and the yellow jersey Lance Armstrong wore during his 2001 Tour de France win. James’ jersey went for $US2750 (NZ$4724) while Armstrong’s jersey fetched $US2750 (NZ$4724).

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The auction titled “Creating a Stage: The Collection of Marsha and Robin Williams” raised a total of US$6,088,250, with the highest selling item – Banksy’s ‘Happy Choppers’ – garnering $US735,000.

Lomu and Williams first met at San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel in 1998 for a promotion.

Organised by the New Zealand Rugby Union, the promotion brought together two of the brightest stars from their respective fields and started a lasting friendship.

The pair reportedly spent more than two hours together after initially being scheduled for a 30-minute meeting.

“The two became fast friends, and were known to have exchanged gifts with one another over the course of their friendship,” the Sotheby’s catalogue notes read.

“He gave me a couple of All Black caps and I wear them around America. People say, ‘What’s that team, brother?’ and I say, ‘The All Blacks,’ and they go, ‘Okay, that’s cool’,” Williams said in 1999.

Lomu penned a letter to Williams’ memory after the actor took his own life in August 2014 aged 63.

“You made me laugh even when you weren’t even trying to, you were a warm, caring man and funny as hell! Our thoughts are with your friends and family at this time and there is a world of us that will miss you my friend. Till we meet again for more laughs,” wrote Lomu.

Lomu would pass away following a heart attack one year later.

In other news:

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Phantom 34 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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