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'Laker fan for life': How rugby paid tribute to the death of NBA and Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Much like the rest of the world, the sudden passing of NBA legend Kobe Bryant has left the rugby fraternity in shock and disbelief.

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The 41-year-old former Los Angeles Lakers star died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on Sunday (local time) alongside his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven other people.

Tributes have since poured in from around the globe for Bryant, who established himself as one of the greatest basketball players to ever live after securing five NBA titles, two NBA Finals MVP awards, an NBA MVP award, 18 NBA All-Star selections and two Olympic gold medals in a 20-year career stretching between 1996 and 2016.

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His accolades made him a revered figure in not just basketball, but the entire world of sport, which has subsequently left many rugby stars reeling in the wake of his death.

Former All Blacks first-five Dan Carter was among the many high-profile rugby players from across the planet who honoured Bryant and his daughter on social media in the hours following the announcement of the helicopter crash.

“Rest in Peace, Kobe and Gianna Bryant,” the Kobe Steelers playmaker posted to his 1.6 million collective followers on Twitter and Instagram.

“Taken far too soon. My thoughts are with the Bryant family at this incredibly difficult time, and the families of the others that passed in that tragic crash. Very sad.”

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Carter’s Top League rival, former Wallabies centurion and Suntory Sungoliath playmaker Matt Giteau, also paid his respects to his 194,000 followers on Twitter.

“Such sad news to wake up to.. Kobe Bryant and his daughter dead,” Giteau wrote in one tweet.

“Life is just way too precious & can’t be taken for granted. Appreciate the ones we do have around & the blessings we do have.. This is just so so sad.”

The 37-year-old followed that up with another post that was later re-tweeted by current All Blacks star Beauden Barrett, which read: “No point constantly planning for a future. We need to just live it now & enjoy what we really have. Awful way to regain perspective sometimes. This is just so sad”.

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New Toronto Wolfpack signing Sonny Bill Williams took to Instagram to commemorate Bryant’s life, posting an image of Kobe and Gianna captioned: “Hold on to your close ones. Tell them you love them. Tell them you forgive them. Remind them how important they are to you. Life’s precious and so is love.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7z76Q6BBu4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The cross-code convert’s former All Blacks teammates TJ Perenara and Lima Sopoaga both shared the same image as each other as they explained how Bryant sparked their passions for basketball and the Lakers.

“From making me fall in love with the game of Basketball to teaching me to fall in love with the relentless pursuit of mastering ones craft. You are and will always be an inspiration,” wrote Hurricanes co-captain Perenara.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B70RleGBi21/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Wasps pivot Sopoaga, meanwhile, simply wrote: “I became a Laker fan for life because of you”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7z_DRnBuNo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

World Cup-winning Springboks playmaker Elton Jantjies added to the flow of tributes, posting a photo of Bryant, whose nickname was Black Mamba, to Twitter captioned: “G – RIP MAMBA #LEGENDARY”.

https://twitter.com/jantjies_elton/status/1221669973665382401

In France, Irish speedster Simon Zebo was joined by Racing 92 teammate Teddy Thomas in acknowledging the life of Bryant.

“RIP G.O.A.T,” Zebo wrote in an Instagram post which features a young Bryant donning the iconic No. 8 jersey he wore in the early stages of his career.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y5vbKBy8v/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

French international Thomas uploaded a pair of photos – one of Bryant after he helped the Lakers claim the 2001 NBA title, and another of the star with Gianna – captioned: “THE REAL MAMBA #24”.

The hashtag of the number 24 is a nod to the equally iconic No. 24 jersey that Bryant wore in the second half of his career.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B70DW2ECL69/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Bryant is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and three daughters – the youngest of whom was born last June.

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J
JG 32 minutes ago
Scott Robertson opens up on drama surrounding Bongi Mbonambi's knock-on try

Oh my word, for how long are they still going to keep bleating about that try.

The match officials DID explain it at the time, ruling that the ball was knocked out of Bongi’s hand by a NZ player. The ball went straight down (not forward) and Bongi fell on it, thus resulting in the try being awarded.

So it is disingenuous of Robertson to say that it wasn’t checked. If the match officials are confident in their decision, based on what they saw, then they don’t usually go to the TMO - even if requested.

Or else they’ll be going upstairs for virtually every try scored in a match.

Seriously, the Kiwis must now get over themselves. Every time they lose a match by a narrow margin, they find something to go on and on about. It’s almost as if they believe that other teams are “not allowed” to beat them.

Mind you, I think that dates back to a few years earlier when it seemed like the All Blacks were untouchable in the eyes of the match officials at the time.

Maybe Robertson still thinks that is the case nowadays. He hasn’t received the memo about the ABs no longer being unfairly “protected” by match officials.

Let’s face it - there was a time, not too long ago, where players from other teams were almost too afraid to touch or tackle a New Zealand player, for fear of incurring the referee's wrath.

And also, around the same time, NZ captain Richie McCaw was the “golden boy” amongst match officials and even amongst the big brass at the (then) IRB (now World Rugby).

Dont get me wrong, I’m an admirer of McCaw as a player and captain - I think he was great. And I will ALWAYS regard the All Blacks as a great Rugby team.

BUT let’s just be realistic, the New Zealand Rugby fraternity do tend to have this rather large sense of entitlement when it comes to test matches won or lost.

They expect other teams to accept it whenever a dubious decision goes the All Blacks’ way in a game.

BUT they don’t seem willing to do the same.

They'll routinely congratulate their opponents when they lose a match, but will then (for months, or even years afterwards), continue to bleat and “bitch” about a decision or incident that occurred in that match, trying to play the “victim” that was hard-done-by.

Perhaps it’s time for all involved in NZ Rugby to realize and accept that NO team should expect to have the right to always be “protected” or “favoured” in every match they play in.


Come on Scott Robertson, quit sinking to the low levels of some of your predecessors who, annoyingly, believed that the All Blacks have some divine, inalienable right to win every match they play.

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