The private funeral follows a massive ceremony at Auckland’s Eden Park on Monday, attended by thousands.
Advertisement
Lomu who passed away aged 40, brought the world to a stop when the news broke of his passing on November 18.
JONAH Lomu’s former teammates performed this incredible haka as the legend in number 11 was farewelled from Eden Park for the final time.
With former New Zealand captain and the man credited with promoting an improved Haka, Buck Shelford, leading the performance, it really will make your hairs stand on end.
World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset travelled from France for the memorial. After sharing their grief with an entire nation for nearly two weeks, All Black Jonah Lomu’s family said their last goodbyes at a private funeral for the rugby legend in Auckland today.
Such was his fame that condolences also came from beyond the sport, including Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, British footballer David Beckham, Hollywood star Morgan Freeman and singer Elton John. On the field, I think of Jonah Lomu.
“This fantastic man delivered a very great message about rugby to the world… he terrified defences and thrilled spectators with a brand of running rugby that had never been seen before”. “He will forever be a big part of rugby’s story”. Not just with New Zealand, but all of the world.
The service was held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Māngere, the church Lomu joined in recent years.
Advertisement
Lomu, who underwent a kidney transplant in 2004, played 63 tests for New Zealand and Hart described him as rugby’s “first superstar” who “left his huge footprint around the world”.
