Tuesday 15 December 2015 10:06, UK
New Zealand's Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) has set up a trust fund to help out the children of All Blacks great Jonah Lomu.
Lomu died at the age of 40 last month after battling kidney disease for two decades, but the NZRPA revealed on Tuesday his estate would not provide sufficient funds to support his sons Brayley and Dhyreille.
"It appears that because of Jonah's well-known generosity, he had taken on obligations, financial and otherwise, to support others at the expense of himself, Nadene and the children," NZRPA chief executive Rob Nichol said.
"It is also apparent that his twenty-year illness and long dialysis sessions, multiple times a week affected him far more than people realised, including his ability to work and earn the type of money people probably assumed he was capable of earning.
"Despite his debilitating illness he was unwaveringly optimistic and clearly had faith he would be able to continue working to meet these obligations and to provide for his family.
"Due to his untimely death, we all know this is sadly not to be, and Jonah is now unable to provide for his boys - for their development, welfare and education."
Among the four founding trustees of The Jonah Lomu Legacy Trust, which will run its fundraising efforts through the website jonahlomulegacy.com, is former All Blacks flanker Michael Jones.
"He superseded anything we had seen before, and it is unlikely we will ever see the likes of again. He was an absolute rugby phenomenon," said Jones.
"Jonah always said his greatest fear was not being around to see his sons turn twenty-one.
"We feel there is no better way to honour his legacy and all he has done for rugby and New Zealand than to provide for what mattered most to Jonah, the future of Brayley and Dhyreille."
