Jonah Lomu's widow tried to donate a kidney to the rugby star before his death, but was unable to due to a lack of compatibility.
Nadene Lomu told Radio New Zealand she underwent testing for the donation in secret, just weeks before the former All Black great died.
"I got the forms ready and we needed the blood test papers so I went and got those done, and then I said, 'Jonah, I want to help you'," she told the radio station.
"We always said we don't want to get too excited in case compatibility wasn't any option. Results came back and it said that we weren't compatible," Ms Lomu said.
Lomu died unexpectedly in November last year, aged 40.
The sporting superstar made 73 appearances for the All Backs, debuting in 1994 and scoring 43 tries during his career.
He retired from rugby in 2002 after being diagnosed with Nephrotic syndrome, a rare kidney disease. In 2004 he received a kidney donated by radio host Grant Kereama.
Lomu left behind his wife Nadene and their two sons, Brayley and Dhyreille.
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