NEW ZEALAND TODAY paid tribute to rugby icon Jonah Lomu in a public ceremony at Eden Park that included a haka tribute led by former All Blacks captain Buck Shelford.

Representatives of Auckland’s Ngati Whatua people performed the traditional Maori dance as Lomu’s casket was carried out in front of thousands of mourners, watched by his wife, Nadene, and sons Brayley, 6, and Dhyreille, 5.

In a touching eulogy, New Zealand Sevens legend Eric Rush said his former teammate was “an inspiration to a whole generation of kids”.

“Life wasn’t easy being Jonah Lomu. In New Zealand, we love getting people up on that pedestal, but as soon as they get there we love nothing more than chopping them down.”

Rush said his friend was “one of the loneliest” rugby players he had ever known, but that that all changed when he met his wife.

All of his mates got brushed from then on.

A private funeral will take place at Lomu’s Auckland home tomorrow.

In pictures: A traditional Pacific farewell for All Blacks icon Jonah Lomu

Read: ‘Jonah would talk to anyone, he’d talk to strangers on the street’