Aaron Hopa

[mikedogz]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/9557906/From-All-Blacks-to-black-bags-for-Liam-Messam

[Bovidae]

@nepia said in Aaron Hopa:

I didn't know that, thought he came too late for the dusties in rugby.

Lowen's career after rugby. I don't know if he still does this now.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/sport/2732028/Rubbish-run-gives-Lowen-a-workout

[taniwharugby]

@nepia Rush runs a supermarket here now.

[Snowy]

@taniwharugby said in Aaron Hopa:

@nepia Rush runs a supermarket here now.

Robin Brooke used to own our local supermarket, used to see him regularly. Sold it a couple of years ago.

Back on track - what was the actual cause of death with Aaron? I know he was doing an emergency ascent from a dive but what was the physiological problem? I haven't read enough about it.

[Nepia]

@snowy The article posted has a bit about it.

[dogmeat]

at the time the thought was he was an undiagnosed asthmatic

[Bovidae]

Having larger than normal lungs was always given as a contributing factor. That, and bad luck.

[MN5]

Without being a dick about it was he really THAT good ? Could he have single handedly won the 99 WC? Call me cynical but dying young certainly enhances a legacy somewhat....

Put it this way, people raved about Flavell and Cribb back in the day, not every bright talent has an awesome career.

[antipodean]

@mn5 That's the mystic mystique even of unfulfilled promise. Look at how James Deans is immortalised.

[MN5]

@antipodean said in Aaron Hopa:

@mn5 That's the mystic of unfulfilled promise. Look at how James Deans is immortalised.

Yeah exactly my point. I do remember watching the game against Auckland and he was brilliant but I guess you never really know.