A special prayer service is about to get underway at the Lomu family home in the Tongan capital of Nuku'alofa. The entire nation is in mourning.
As they sang and prayed for Jonah Lomu, their favourite son, tears began to fall.
They had gathered at the Lomu home - aunties, uncles and cousins - to remember and honour their Tongan legend.
While Lomu wasn't born in Tonga, his parents were. He moved there when he was a year old and lived with family in a small village.
He was proud to be Tongan, and returned here five years ago to coach and inspire young rugby players.
At Tupoe College, attended by Lomu’s family, the students honoured him their way. A personalised haka performed with passion and power.
The Tongan primary schools rugby tournament began with a minute's silence, and then the young boys and girls played their hearts out. Lomu would have been proud.
Coach Salome Vaenuku also plays for the Tongan rugby sevens team, which was inspired by Lomu.
"Jonah has inspired me to try hard and get more tries, be confident."
The Sports Minister perhaps best summed up how Tongans felt about lomu.
"Some of the families even name their children after Jonah Lomu and everyone claimed they're related to him… He was very, very sought after by Tongans."
Tongans will honour Lomu with a minute's silence at church services across the country on Sunday and the Prime Minister will write a letter to be read at his funeral next week.
3 News
