Thousands showed up to bid an emotional farewell to rugby player Jonah Lomu as he left Eden Park for the final time.
Among the many mourners were his former teammates from the All Blacks, the Auckland Blues, the Vodafone Warriors and Wallabies.
Many wore the 11 jersey in tribute to the rugby legend who passed away earlier this month aged 40.
At the end of the ceremony, as Lomu’s casket was carried from the stage out of the stadium, he was sent off by a series of powerful and moving hakas from the full Blues and Warriors squads.
World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset said Lomu was a giant whose contribution to rugby “cannot be overstated.”
Lapasset described him 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.”
Former All Blacks coach John Hart added “It’s frightening to think what he could have done on the field had he not played with such a huge medical handbrake.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrI_GW9DAfI
Video via YouTube/NZTV
Moving haka by former All Blacks, Blues and Warriors players. #RIPJonah pic.twitter.com/f4W04NGhBH
— RadioLIVE Newsroom (@LIVENewsDesk) November 30, 2015
