The Blues franchise announced his death on Twitter tonight, saying: "With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Joeli Vidiri, aged 48.
"GOAT is used frequently these days, more than it should. In the case of Joeli the title truly fits. One of the greatest players of all time."
It has been a tragic 24 hours for rugby, after Va’aiga Tuigamala passed away in Auckland last night at the age of 52.
Born in Fiji, Vidiri became a sensation on the field for his match-winning heroics for both Counties Manukau and the Blues.
He played two tests for the All Blacks in 1998. But his career was struck down by serious kidney failure, and he eventually had what was a life-prolonging kidney transplant in 2015.
His biography on the All Blacks website says: "When he was at the peak of his career around the 1996-97 season there were no more awesome sights when he was in full flight than Joeli Vidiri, the big Fijian wing who made his home in south Auckland in the mid 90s.
"He played together with Jonah Lomu in several appearances for Counties-Manukau and for the Blues and it is doubtful whether two more imposing figures have ever been together in any side. And especially in the 1996-97 seasons Vidiri was the more effective of the two.
"As with so many Fijians, Vidiri had pace, power and a 1.90m, 100kg physique. For both Counties and the Blues in the Super 12 he proved to be a prolific try scorer, notching 10 in each of the 1996-97-98 seasons.
"But tragically playing together so often was not the only parallel Vidiri had with his close friend, Lomu.
"In an uncanny coincidence Vidiri was also stricken with a grave kidney illness which in 2001 brought his career to an abrupt halt. He, too, was placed on dialysis treatment."
After his kidney transplant, Vidiri said that he had initially been taken off a transplant waiting list in 2008 because his mother, Alemeci, had concerns, but the pair reconciled and she was visiting her son when he got the call in late May 2015 that a donor had been found.
As well as playing for the All Blacks, Vidiri also represented New Zealand in Sevens rugby.
