New Zealand's Pacific community farewells Jonah Lomu

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand's Pacific Island community gathered at a memorial service Saturday for former All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu, two days before all New Zealanders unite publicly to grieve the loss of one of rugby's greatest players.

Lomu's wife Nadene, his sons Brayley, 6, and Dhyreille, 5 — who wore miniature versions of their father's No. 11 All Blacks jersey — governor general Jerry Mateparae and former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga were among hundreds who attended the service at a South Auckland sports arena.

Representatives of Lomu's Tongan community were joined by others from Samoa, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tuvalu and Tokelau to remember a man they say put Pacific Islanders on the global map.

Lomu, who died in Auckland last week aged 40, was considered rugby's first global superstar.

Many of those who attended Saturday's service wore a traditional woven skirt which is a symbol of respect and mourning, and joined in prayers and hymns.

Lomu's former All Blacks teammate Eroni Clark, who led the ceremony, said Lomu "was the greatest of us. Of all of our generations...Jonah was the greatest."

A leader of the Tongan community described Lomu as "a wonderful, gentle, loving giant."

Former All Black Michael Jones told the gathering Lomu was "a giant of a man, giant of the rugby world and a giant of a husband and father."

Governor general Matapearae, the representative in New Zealand of Britain's Queen Elizabeth said Lomu's was a life worth celebrating.

"He impressed us with his courage, his humility, his grace under pressure," he said. "His determination to use his influence and his mana for the benefit of others was exemplary.

"A great Totara (tree) has been cut down and we will not see the likes of him again."

Lomu's official public memorial service will take place at Auckland's Eden Park rugby stadium on Monday. New Zealand prime minister John Key and World Rugby president Bernard Lapasset will be among tens of thousands of mourners expected to attend that ceremony.

Lomu battled kidney disease for almost 20 years and had a kidney transplant in 2004. He died within hours of returning to New Zealand from the Rugby World Cup in Britain, either from cardiac arrest or as a result of a blood clot caused by long-haul air travel.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-11-28

Few of us have not been touched by this tragedy. He'll never be forgotten.

I'm not even a rugby fan and know little about the sport...but I knew how great he was as a player, and also apparently as a human being. Very sad indeed.

RIP to a great rugby sportsman but most importantly a family man