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Thousands of people have gathered in the New Zealand capital of Auckland for a public memorial service to Jonah Lomu, one of the country's finest ever rugby players who died aged 40, earlier in November. Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Lomu had suffered from a rare and chronic liver disease since 1995 and died after returning to New Zealand from the Rugby World Cup in England, won by the All Blacks. His coffin was carried into Auckland's Eden Park by Rugby League player Manu Vatuvei (L) and All Blacks player Jerome Kaino, among others. Hannah Peters/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Lomu was arguably the best known rugby player of all time and one who enjoyed the greatest stature in the game over the past two decades. He scored 37 tries in 63 Tests for the All Blacks and was the epitome of power and speed in his role as a winger. Mark Dadswell /Allsport
Lomu leaves behind wife Nadene and her two sons, Brayley (L) and Dhyreille, who were at Eden Park for the service. MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP/Getty Images
Former All Blacks, including some who played alongside Lomu, performed an emotional haka as his coffin left the field at Eden Park. Fiona Goodall/Getty Images
Lomu's son Dhyreille follows the hearse carrying his late father as it leaves the stadium. Hannah Peters/Getty Images
This picture of fullback Mike Catt being trampled over by Lomu summed up the helplessness of England's players in the face of the All Black at the 1995 World Cup in what many credit as the game that elevated him to superstar status. New Zealand won the semifinal 45-29 but lost to South Africa in the final. Ben Radford /Allsport
Maori warriors perform at the public service for Lomu, who was of Tongan descent. MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP/Getty Images
Lomu doing the haka with his New Zealand teammates at Twickenham in 2002. "When I chucked on my All Black shirt, for me, it was like armor, getting ready to go into battle," Lomu told CNN in a 2014 interview. David Rogers/Getty Images/file
Former All Blacks Dalls Seymour (L) and Michael Jones perform a traditional Maori "hongi" greeting after the memorial service. MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP/Getty Images
Thousands of people gathered for the memorial service, many holding cards featuring the number 11 -- Lomu's old shirt number. His family are due to hold a private funeral in Auckland on Tuesday. Hannah Peters/Getty Images
