The wife and family of late rugby star Jonah Lomu are involved in a dispute over his grave as his headstone is set to be unveiled – almost three years after his death.
The headstone will be revealed at a ceremony organised by the New Zealand All Blacks legend’s wife Nadene, but Lomu’s side of the family weren’t told about it and are worried about his epitaph.
Lomu’s mother Hepi will miss the ceremony at Manukau Memorial Gardens in South Auckland on Monday as she is in Fiji, having flown there on Friday while unaware of Nadene’s plans.
The wife and family of late rugby star Jonah Lomu are involved in a dispute over his grave as his headstone is set to be unveiled – almost three years after his death
The headstone will be revealed at a ceremony organised by the New Zealand All Blacks legend’s wife Nadene
Lomu’s side of the family weren’t told about it and are worried about his epitaph (Pictured: Lomu’s grave in south Auckland)
He died in November 2015, suffering a heart attack after fighting kidney failure.
He had two children with wife Nadene: Brayley, 10, and Dhryeille, 9.
Lomu’s brother John told the New Zealand Herald the family weren’t notified of Nadene’s plan to unveil the headstone.
‘We’re a bit suspicious about the timing of the unveiling – we just found out like everybody else on Thursday,’ he said.
Lomu’s friend Henry Vaeoso said the epitaph on the headstone was written without input from his family.
Lomu’s friend Henry Vaeoso said the epitaph on the headstone was written without input from his family
‘I hope if there is anything on the stone, it would be Jonah’s mum, his siblings, Nadene and the two boys.
‘It better not have Nadene’s parents on it because it would be a big insult to the Lomus… I know the boys will dig it up.’
John Lomu said his mother has little contact with her grandsons.
‘When the kids are old enough and they have questions about their dad they want to know, we will tell them the truth.’
Lomu died in November 2015 after a long battle with kidney failure