The last haka: Mourners pay fitting tribute to rugby legend Jonah Lomu as thousands join his heartbroken family at Auckland service

It was the most fitting tribute to a rugby giant. In suits, in sports kit and in T-shirts emblazoned with his name, scores of mourners filed on to the pitch to perform a last haka for Jonah Lomu.

The venue, Eden Park, is the home of New Zealand rugby and a stadium where the 6ft5in All Black had played many times before a crowd awed by his power, speed and sheer stature.

But on Monday there was no match to win. Instead the crowd of 8,000 people gathered solely to honour Lomu, who died unexpectedly at the age of 40 from a cardiac arrest a fortnight ago.

Among them were his wife Nadine, 34, and their children Brayley, six, and Dhyreille, five, who released doves in his memory. The haunting rendition of the haka was performed by former and current All Blacks as a hearse containing Lomu's body was driven onto the pitch.