Auckland: New Zealand has paid homage to former rugby union star Jonah Lomu with a special memorial service that included a rendition of the haka in Lomu's honour.
The service was held at the Eden Park National Stadium in Auckland and the traditional Maori dance was performed as Lomu's casket was carried out.
His former All Blacks team-mate Eric Rush gave a touch speech at the service.
The former All Black died of a heart attack at the age of 40 earlier this month, after a lengthy battle with nephrotic syndrome that had curtailed his rugby career.
The service began with a traditional haka and powhiri, or welcome, performed by indiginous Maori representatives of Auckland's Ngati Whatua people, and was attended both by former club and national teammates as well as erstwhile rivals from overseas.
Lomu's pallbearers included former New Zealand players Michael Jones, Dylan Mika, Frank Bunce, Joeli Vidiri and Jerome Kaino.
Lomu became the youngest-ever All Black on his 1994 debut, before bursting into the public consciousness as a 19-year-old at the 1995 World Cup.
There he scored seven tries, famously including four against England in the semi-final, as New Zealand finished runners-up to hosts South Africa.
He won 63 international caps and played for numerous clubs in his homeland, in addition to a spell with Cardiff Blues in the latter days of his career.
Lomu was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007, and the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011.
The service was held at the Eden Park National Stadium in Auckland and the traditional Maori dance was performed as Lomu's casket was carried out.
His former All Blacks team-mate Eric Rush gave a touch speech at the service.
The former All Black died of a heart attack at the age of 40 earlier this month, after a lengthy battle with nephrotic syndrome that had curtailed his rugby career.
The service began with a traditional haka and powhiri, or welcome, performed by indiginous Maori representatives of Auckland's Ngati Whatua people, and was attended both by former club and national teammates as well as erstwhile rivals from overseas.
Lomu's pallbearers included former New Zealand players Michael Jones, Dylan Mika, Frank Bunce, Joeli Vidiri and Jerome Kaino.
Lomu became the youngest-ever All Black on his 1994 debut, before bursting into the public consciousness as a 19-year-old at the 1995 World Cup.
There he scored seven tries, famously including four against England in the semi-final, as New Zealand finished runners-up to hosts South Africa.
He won 63 international caps and played for numerous clubs in his homeland, in addition to a spell with Cardiff Blues in the latter days of his career.
Lomu was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007, and the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011.
No comments:
Post a Comment