Some 8,000 people attended a memorial to honour All Blacks rugby great Jonah Lomu at New Zealand’s most famous rugby ground, Eden Park in Auckland, on Monday, Nov. 30, 2015.
Lomu died suddenly on Nov. 18 from a cardiac arrest related to the rare kidney condition he had struggled with for most of his career.
His casket was carried by 10 pallbearers, which included his former All Black team mates, including one who wore Lomu's legendary No. 11 jersey.
Here is video of his former team mates performing the final farewell haka to the rugby legend:
Jonah Lomu's former teammates perform an emotional final haka at his funeral
Posted by Rugby Banter Page on Sunday, November 29, 2015
Hailed as a role model to young Polynesian New Zealanders and for his role in taking rugby onto the international stage, the service included a mix of English, Maori and Tongan performance and tribute.
Among those in attendance in Eden Park were many who were dressed in traditional Pacific clothing, as well as a variety of rugby jerseys from Lomu’s former sides -- the All Blacks, the Auckland Blues, the Wellington Hurricanes and the Counties-Manukau provincial side.
So much so that one of those in attendance at the memorial even wore an England rugby jersey with No. 15 on the back.
It was a nod to one of the most memorable plays in rugby history, when Lomu completely overpowered England fullback Mike Catt in the 1995 World Cup semi-final to score a try.
That World Cup 20 years ago saw the New Zealand winger’s emergence on the global stage.
This was the play that shot Lomu to international stardom:
As the memorial worn down, a hearse carried Jonah Lomu towards the exit and along the Eden Park touchline for one last time.
He is survived by his wife and two young sons.
You can watched the extended eight-minute memorial service here:
Jonah Lomu farewelled off Eden Park for the very last time. Masses of Jonah Lomu’s former All Blacks teammates, rugby and league friends performed a breathtaking haka on the field of Eden Park.
Posted by Rugby Rampage on Sunday, November 29, 2015