Jonah Lomu

A public memorial will be held to remember Lomu on Monday, November 30, at Eden Park from 1pm.

Lomu, 40, died suddenly on November 18, prompting a huge outpouring of messages from around the world for the former All Black.

Lomu's wife Nadene and two sons greeted his casket when it arrived, and his mother Hepi is there.
The `Aho Faka Famili, or day of the family, event at the Vodafone Events Centre in south Auckland is an opportunity for communities from the Pacific to honour Lomu.

Many of the thousands of people wore bright Pasifika shirts, black skirts and traditional dress.

Former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew told the BBC that Lomu would have felt little pain when he died suddenly last week.

Mayhew spoke to BBC Five Live last night and said: "He returned from the UK via Dubai and appeared to be in good health before he died."

"We think the most likely cause was a clot on the lung which can be a complication of long distance travel. Jonah was at greater risk of that happening because of his renal condition."

In the church he used to go to as boy, the Lotofale'ia Methodist Church in Mangere, 40 candles were lit on a table at the front to represent each of the years of the rugby great's life. Jonah Lomu died suddenly last week after suffering for many years from a chronic and serious kidney disorder.

Music filled the church during yesterday's three hour service, from traditional Tongan and modern singing and a brass band, and people came to tell stories about "their son".

The memorial service at the Lotofalei'a Tongan Methodist Church in Mangere is the first public event for the rugby legend since he died on Wednesday, aged 40.

Former All Black Lomu, whose parents are Tongan, died this week in Auckland as a result of cardiac-arrest related to his long-running battle with kidney disease.

Sports Minister Fe'ao Vakata says the government will be represented at a memorial service for Lomu in Auckland.

Lomu died suddenly this week, aged 40, after suffering for many years from a chronic and serious kidney disorder.

The All Black great is survived by his wife, Nadene, and their two young children.

Lomu died unexpectedly on Wednesday at his Auckland home. He had suffered from a serious kidney disease for several years.

His family has yet to announce funeral plans but a Tongan community leader Salote Heleta Lilo says one will be held on Sunday at the Mangere church his family attended.

Yesterday, students and staff at the school south of Auckland, were stunned by his sudden death.

One of his teachers, Richard Smythe, said Lomu at first showed no interest in rugby.

"He was always telling me he was going to run away from the school in the weekends and go and play league with his mates."

Smythe said the first time Lomu played rugby, there was "nothing".

As the Pacific Island government looks at how the nation will mark the rugby legend's passing, the governor of the Ha'apai island group said Lomu's family were now wearing ceremonial clothing as word spread of his death.