Before the trophies, before the world fame, Jonah Lomu was the star of his old school in south Auckland – Wesley College.
Today they too remembered the rugby icon.
Teacher Richard Smythe was a friend of Lomu's mother and says the school was a bit worried about the giant student being too much to handle, but they didn't have to be.
"He was a big, huge fellow, but he was a gentle giant."
And from day one it was obvious, Lomu had goals. Mr Smythe says Lomu wasn't ever going to give up.
"He set up weights in a spare room. I asked him what they were for he said, 'Sir, I want to be an All Black.'"
"Once a Wesleyan, always a Wesleyan" is the school's motto. And as their school assembly ended, the students paid respect to the former student, mentor and role model in the most fitting of ways.
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