Rugby giant Jonah Lomu laid to rest in New Zealand

Thousands of mourners have paid tribute to former All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu at the final public memorial for the rugby great, who died earlier this month aged 40.

Former and current rugby and rugby league players Steven Luatua, Ruben Wiki, and Tana Umaga perform a haka at the public memorial for Jonah Lomu at Eden Park. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset said Lomu was a giant whose contribution to rugby “cannot be overstated”.

A private family burial service will be held in Auckland on Tuesday for Lomu, who died on November 18.

Many of the mourners at Auckland’s Eden Park were wearing Lomu’s No 11 shirt.

VIDEO: Timelapse shows recreation of our powerful Jonah Lomu tribute in Cork https://t.co/xEAj9yTVLX pic.twitter.com/CpBIsyO57a

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) November 22, 2015

Mr Lapasset, who flew to New Zealand from France, joined New Zealand prime minister John Key and former All Blacks teammates in paying tribute to Lomu’s contribution to rugby and his charity work.

Lapasset described Lomu as “a giant of a man (who) leaves a giant space in world rugby - he will forever be a big part of rugby’s story”.

Nadene Lomu, centre, widow of Jonah Lomu, thanks the crowd with her two sons, Brayley, right, and Dhyreille, second right, her mother Lois Kuiek, left, her father, Mervyn Kuiek, top right, and Jonah Lomu’s mother Hepi Lomu, second left.Picture: AP

Mr Key recorded a video tribute in Paris, where he is attending the world climate conference, saying Lomu made a real difference in people’s lives.

“He proved that you can come from anywhere in New Zealand in any background and make it to the top,” Mr Key said.

One of the most moving tributes came from pupils of Lomu’s former school, Favona Primary in South Auckland, who wrote and performed a tribute song. The pupils sang of Lomu as “No 11, our friend in heaven”.

The memorial opened with a traditional haka and powhiri, or welcome, performed by indigenous Maori representatives of Auckland’s Ngati Whatua people.

Former and current rugby and rugby league players Steven Luatua, Ruben Wiki, and Tana Umaga perform a haka at the public memorial for Jonah Lomu at Eden Park. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Lomu’s coffin was then borne into the stadium by pallbearers including former All Blacks Michael Jones, Frank Bunce, Joeli Vidiri and Jerome Kaino, as well as New Zealand rugby league player Manu Vatuvei.

The coffin was followed by Lomu’s wife Nadene, who wore a woven skirt which is a traditional Tongan symbol of respect and mourning, and by Lomu’s sons Brayley, 6, and Dhyreille, 5, who wore T-shirts with the Irish Examiner’s fallen fern image which it published in tribute to the All Black legend.

Mourners watched a video montage of high points in Lomu’s rugby career, including a tribute paid to him by British singer Elton John during his recent concert tour to New Zealand.

Former All Blacks coach John Hart spoke on behalf of Lomu’s wife and children, thanking mourners and expressing gratitude for the tributes that had poured in from around the world.

Mr Hart recounted Lomu’s almost 20-year battle with the debilitating kidney illness nephrotic syndrome which eventually forced his retirement and is thought to have contributed to his death.

Mr Hart said Lomu’s illness meant he played all of his career at only 80% capacity, adding: “He was a fighter until the very end.”