Vodafone Warriors players joined ex-All Blacks and the 2016 Blues squad for a stirring haka as New Zealand sporting legend Jonah Lomu was farewelled at Eden Park today.
As an emotional service came to an end, former All Black captain Buck Shelford stepped forward with a large contingent comprising many of Lomu's ex-All Black team-mates backed up by the 2016 Vodafone Warriors and the Blues to perform the haka.
The Vodafone Warriors travelled en masse to the service with all players, football staff and office staff in attendance.
Kiwi and Vodafone Warriors wing Manu Vatuvei was one of the pall bearers who carried Lomu's casket into the stadium and finally to the waiting hearse for his last exit from Eden Park. Among the other pall bearers were John Mayhew, the long-time former All Black doctor now with the Vodafone Warriors, as well as current All Black Jerome Kaino and ex-New Zealand internationals Michael Jones, Eroni Clarke, Joeli Vidiri, Frank Bunce and Dylan Mika.
Eulogies were delivered by World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset - who travelled from France especially for the service - Lomu's former Wesley College principal Chris Grinter and former All Black coach John Hart before Lomu's former team-mate Eric Rush provided a witty tribute.
