Lomu service to be held in Eden Park

A public memorial service for Jonah Lomu will be held next Monday in Eden Park in Auckland.

All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu - pictured in 2002. Photo: AFP

The former All Black died suddenly last week at the age of 40, from what former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew said was "most likely" to have been a flight-related blood clot.

The service will be held from 1pm to 3pm, Prime Minister John Key said.

It will be open to everyone who wanted to remember the significant contribution Lomu had made - not only to rugby but to the wider community through his work with charities such as UNICEF and Kidney Kids New Zealand, Mr Key said.

"Jonah was much loved, there will be a huge amount of people who will want to come along and pay tribute to him."

Lomu family spokesperson John Hart said Eden Park was an appropriate venue.

"We want to invite all the public; we want a big crowd to come to Eden Park. We've chosen Eden Park because it's the spiritual home of rugby and somewhere Jonah loved so much."

Jonah Lomu on the charge in his debut for the All Blacks, 26 June 1994.

Jonah Lomu sings the national anthem at the New Zealand v France match. His second test for the All Blacks.

Jonah Lomu in action, New Zealand All Blacks v England, Rugby World Cup, 1995.

Jonah Lomu is tackled, New Zealand All Blacks v Australia, 1996.

Jonah Lomu on the charge, New Zealand All Blacks v England, 1997.

Jonah Lomu as the All Blacks play England in an international rugby union test match, 1998.

Playing for the Waikato Chiefs, v Auckland Blues, Super 12 Rugby Union. 1999.

Jonah Lomu during the Rugby World Cup semi final between the All Blacks and France at Twickenham, London, on October 31 1999. France won the match 43-31.

New Zealand Counties Manukau Rugby union player Jonah Lomu getting tackled during a match, NPC rugby 1999.

Jonah Lomu in action during the Super 12 rugby union match between the Hurricanes and the Cats, WestpacTrust Stadium, Wellington, 22 March, 2002.

Jonah Lomu shakes hands with Martin Johnson at the conclusion of the match for Johnson's testimonial at Twickenham, London, UK, Saturday 4 June, 2005.

Jonah Lomu in action during the Air NZ Cup Week 7 rugby union match between North Harbour and Manawatu at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand on Friday 8 September, 2006. North Harbour won the match 28 - 6.

After retiring in 2007, two years later Jonah Lomu joined French Fédérale 1 team Marseille Vitrolles, playing at No 8, for the 2009-2010 season.

Tens of thousands of New Zealanders are expected to attend the event at Eden Park.

An earlier service will also be held at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau on Saturday, which will allow Pasifika people to pay their respects traditionally.

Hundreds of people from the local Pacific community gathered last night to mourn Lomu at the Lotofale'ia Methodist Church in Mangere, where he grew up. It was the first public memorial for the former All Black.

Mr Hart said up to 40 past and present All Blacks players and coaches also went to Lomu's home in Epsom last night.

Blood clot 'most likely cause'

Dr Mayhew, who was a close friend of Lomu, told the BBC he thought a flight-related blood clot was the most likely cause of death.

"The most likely cause is a pulmonary embolus - or clot to the lung - which can complicate long-distance travel.

"Jonah was at that greater risk of that happening because of his renal condition," he said.

"The other possibility is a cardiac death but on the balance of probabilities I think it was probably a massive clot to the lungs."

It was a tragic complication that could occur in people with chronic health conditions, he said.

"I think it was an instantaneous death... I think he was unaware of what had happened."

Lomu, who had suffered from kidney problems since 1995 and received a transplant in 2004, died in his home last Tuesday night shortly after a flight from Dubai.