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Jonah Lomu - Source: Reuters -
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Kiwi rugby legend Jonah Lomu has returned from a promotional trip to the Pacific.
Lomu is rugby marketing gold, and has been whipping up locals' enthusiasm for the sport, and the Rugby World Cup.
Rugby World Cup organisers know that getting the Island nations mobilised could really fire up the tournament.
"We believe if those teams get going in New Zealand they will set the tournament alight," said Rugby New Zealand 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden.
And yesterday's massive win for Manu Samoa, beating Australia 32-23 in Sydney, has done huge amounts of good to ignite Samoan passion.
Lomu has been running training clinics, sharing the skills which made him a formidable force on the field and an inspiration to players in the islands.
He said although island kids don't have the same facilities and equipment players in New Zealand enjoy, they have immense natural talent.
"They haven't been exposed to the things the Kiwi boys have but they do the best with what they've got, it's amazing," Lomu said.
"Giving a little bit of encouragement, especially coming from the Polynesian boys like myself and Junior (former All Black Ofisa Tunu'u) what we've achieved from rugby and these kids hopefully they can follow in the same footsteps."
After Lomu has finished with this Rugby World Cup, he'll move onto the 2019 World Cup in Japan, for which he is the official ambassador.
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