Unlike Jonah Lomu, who died after suffering from a rare kidney disorder, Lauaki’s kidney failure issue was not widely known to many Tongans.
Kaniva News reports his death Sunday at 35 came as a huge shock.
Tongan All Blacks trialist and former ‘Ikaletahi chief coach Manakaetau ‘Otai said he was concerned that kidney failure problems appeared to have affected some Pacific Island players.
He said Lauaki’s death was “tragic news.”
‘Otai said Lauaki’s rugby talent was marred by his sickness which was discovered while he was playing in France.
