What former and current rugby players had to say after the All Blacks legend passed away on Wednesday.

JOOST VAN DER WESTHUIZEN
@9Joost
Difficult to write with eyes full of tears on my eye tracker. Thank you for EVERYTHING Jonah. RIP my dear friend!

JOHN SMIT
‏@JohnSmit123
Waking up to news of Jonah's passing is devastating.I loved watching him,playing against him & knowing him.My prayers are with his family.

JONNY WILKINSON
‏@JonnyWilkinson
I am so, so devastated to hear of the passing away of @JONAHTALILOMU The greatest superstar and just a fabulous human being. Deeply saddened

DAN CARTER
@DanCarter
I still can't believe the sad news. Love & thoughts go out to Jonahs family #RIPJonah

SONNY BILL WILLIAMS
‏@SonnyBWilliams
Shocked, thoughts are with the Lomu family right now.

THIERRY DUSAUTOIR
@TitiDusautoir
Rip Jonah…You inspired a generation of rugby players around the world. Thank you for so much ! @JONAHTALILOMU #greatman #legend

ISRAEL FOLAU
‏@IzzyFolau
Rest in peace to my brother Jonah Lomu. Going to miss you bro

PIRI WEEPU
@piriweepu
Sad sad news.. The man who gave kiwis the desire to play for the All Blacks. Thank you @JONAHTALILOMU will miss you big guy! #RILTokoUso

LWAZI MVOVO
‏@lwazimvovo
We will never forget. You inspired a generation. #jonahlomu #legend

SIMON SHAW
@ShawseyShaw
Definition an Icon: One who is the object of great attention and devotion; an idol. RIP @JONAHTALILOMU A game changer like no other.

ANDRÉ SNYMAN
‏@RaptorsCoach
Finding it hard to accept the passing of @JONAHTALILOMU What a servant to the game of rugby And what an inspiration to us all. #RIPJonah

JAMES O'CONNOR
‏@JamesOConnor832
Devastated the greatest ever has passed away! The worlds in mourning for such an amazing talent yet genuine & humble human. R.I.P Jonah Lomu

GEORGE GREGAN
‏@GeorgeGregan
Jonah Lomu R.I.P. 18/11/15. Thoughts & prayers to you and your family… #greatallblack #betterman

TIM HORAN
‏@TimHoran12
RIP Jonah Lomu. Feared by all, LOVED by ALL. To play against and with you was a huge honour. You put Rugby on the global stage. Prayers

DANNY CIPRIANI
‏@DannyCipriani87
RIP Jonah Lomu – devastating news! True legend of the game

NEEMIA TIALATA
‏@NeemiaTialata
Sad sad news Thank u for everything u did for rugby especially island kids growing up wanting to be an @AllBlacks @JONAHTALILOMU #RIPLomu

SEAN FITZPATRICK
‏@frontrow92
Our thoughts are with the @JONAHTALILOMU family tonight. A very special person. @AllBlacks

DREW MITCHELL
@drew_mitchell
Say it isn't so!! @JONAHTALILOMU was & always will be the greatest winger of all time!! Rest well mate!!

ISRAEL DAGG
@izzy_dagg
Was in mexico yesterday and people were speaking about @JONAHTALILOMU .. You made rugby what it Is today Jonah… Love to you n the family

CORY JANE
‏@CoryJane1080
1994 I was 11years old & saw my hero play for the All Blacks..A legend of the game & someone I wanted to be. #Jonah_Lomu #Can_Be_Only_One 11

BRYAN HABANA
@BryanHabana
His on field fearlessness was matched by his off field humility. So sad to wake to the news of @JONAHTALILOMU's passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. It was a privilege to have met you, to have been inspired by you and to watch you make the biggest impact we have ever seen on the game we love so dearly #GameChanger #GlobalSuperstar #RIPJonahLomu (shared from Instagram)

JOEL STRANSKY
@stranners
Deeply saddened to hear of @JONAHTALILOMU passing. Rugby's first true global icon/legend. A true gentleman & nice guy! #RIPJonah

CORNÉ KRIGE
@CorneKrige6
Saluting a legend. R.I.P.  Jonah Lomu. #JonahLomu

ROB LOUW
@roblouw6
Sad to hear of Jona Lomus death will we ever forget hes try at Newlands in RWC when he ran over Mike Catt rip Jona greatest ever

FRANKIE HORN
@HorneFrankie
Sad day for Rugby…Rest in Peace big man. #jonahlomu #legendofthegame

BRAAM VAN STRAATEN
@BraamvStraaten1
@JONAHTALILOMU A Legend in his own lifetime. Had the privilege to rub shoulder with the big man. Heart of Gold#RIPJONAH

JAMES HASKELL
@jameshaskell
Really shocked to wake up and hear that the biggest and best rugby legend of all time @JONAHTALILOMU has passed away. RIP the big guy

HOSEA GEAR
@HEGear
I don't have words as I wake to the sad news of losing a great person, a family man, a brother, an inspiration. Our condolences and love goes out to your family at this tough time. You'll be sadly missed big guy (shared from Instagram)

QUADE COOPER
@QuadeCooper
Rest easy Jonah.. You've been an inspiration to so many during & after your playing career.. The reason I started playing rugby! #RIPJonah

FRÉDÉRIC MICHALAK
@michalakfred
RIP Jonah, tu vas nous manquer mon frere (RIP Jonah, we will miss you my brother)

LEWIS MOODY
@LewisMoody7
Can't believe the news that #JonahLomu has died. Such a sad day. He single handedly changed the game of rugby. Rugby's 1st global super star

ZAC GUILFORD
@zacguildford11
Rest easy @JONAHTALILOMU . Changed the game of rugby by doing things no one could ever do. Prayers and thoughts are with his family. #11

CHARLES PIUTAU
‏@CPiutau
Shocked and sad to hear such news.looked up to him growing up and the G.O.A.T of the game.R.I.P Jonah Lomu #11 prayers go out to the family

WILL CARLING
‏@willcarling
So sad to hear that Jonah Lomu has died. Rugby's first global star, what a player and more important what a good guy #verysad

PEDRIE WANNENBURG
‏@Pedrie6
RIP Jonah you where one of the greatest players ever. Thoughts and prayers for the family.#AllBlacks #hero

GIO APLON‏
@1GioAplon
Such sad news #JonahLomu the man who changed the game single handedly!RIP legend you'll never be forgotten.praying for his family!

WILL GREENWOOD
‏@WillGreenwood
#RIPJonah I will never forget that semi final in 1995. Watching one man change a game into a Global Sport in 80 minutes.

JACQUES BURGER ‏
@Nabasboer
Rest peacefully Big Jonah. We have lost one of the greatest to have ever played our game  #JonahLomu #rugbylegend

GEORGE NORTH ‏
@George_North
So sad to hear the passing of a legend! An inspiration to me and so many people. #RIPJonahLomu

KOBUS WIESE ‏
@4KobusWiese
RIP Jonah Lomu, until we meet again.

TANA UMAGA ‏
@tanaumaga
Luni laid to rest yesterday and the Big Guy gone too!! #Whatthehellshappening!!  #Stillindisbelief!! #Restinloveuso's! #Lovetothefamilies!

GARETH AANSCOMBE ‏
@Gareth_Anscombe
Lucky enough to have met you on a handful of occasions. A true rugby icon and a legend of the game. Thanks for the memories @JONAHTALILOMU

WAISAKE NAHOLO ‏
@wnaholo
Rest In Peace Jonah.  #RunItStraightKing

JOE ROKOCOKO ‏
@J_Rokocoko
Sucks waking up to sad news, a hero who made myself & P.I boys dream/believe that we can compete in the world stage. R.I.P @JONAHTALILOMU

GARETH THOMAS ‏
@gareththomas14
R.I.P @JONAHTALILOMU .Taken too soon , but your spirit will always live with us.A dear friend who woke the world up to rugby.xx

SAM WARBURTON ‏
@samwarburton
Jonah Lomu was the first reason I wanted to play rugby. Inspiration and true legend. Very sad news. Thoughts with his family.

ASHWIN WILLEMSE
‏@Ashwinwillemse
One of the greatest rugby legends of all time! #RIPJonah

BRIAN O'DRISCOLL ‏
@BrianODriscoll
Really awful news to wake up to this morning. Jonah was rugby's first real superstar. Thoughts are with his family.

MA'A NONU ‏
@maavelous
Big guy put everyone else first before himself! Most humble&generous superstar to walk the earth

JAMIE ROBERTS ‏
@Jamiehuwroberts
Such sad news. I Remember most schoolyard conversations were 'imagine having to tackle JonahLomu 1 vs 1! The man changed our sport. RIP GOAT

ALUN-WYN JONES ‏
@AlunWynJones
Can't help but think where our game would be had @JONAHTALILOMU not burst on to the scene with professionalism in 1995!!! #thanks #RIPJonah

DAVID CAMPESE ‏
@Davidcampese11
RIP the great @JONAHTALILOMU. First a mate and a great human family man and not a bad rugby player. Still in shock.

TOMMASO ALLAN‏
@Allan_Tommy
Saddened by the passing away of a true legend and inspiration. You will be missed JL, one of the greatest ever. Thought and prayers go out to you and your family. RIP Jonah (shared from Instagram)

DEAN MUMM
@DeanMumm
RIP Jonah Lomu. One man who inspired a generation of rugby players and an automatic selection in heavens first XV.  #11 #RIPJonah

JAMES SMALL ‏
@JamesTerenceSm1
A privilege to be held in same breath.. RIP big man

ANDRÉ JOUBERT ‏
@15Jouba
So sad to hear about Jono.What a legend and giant gentleman of rugby!!! My sincere condolences to Jono' family.

Photo: Gabriel Bouys/AFP Photo