New Zealand provincial rugby clubs, the Counties-Manukau Steelers and the Wellington Lions, honoured the memory of All Black great Jonah Lomu in their annual clash for the ‘Jonah Lomu Memorial Trophy’ on Saturday 15 September. Wellington walloped Counties-Manukau 53 – 12.

The ‘Jonah Lomu Memorial Trophy’ has been annually contested by Counties-Manukau and Wellington since 2016. The trophy is formed in the shape of the number 11, the jersey number of Jonah Lomu.

As tribute, the Counties-Manukau team wore jerseys with the classical colour design of the 1994 Counties-Manukau team that Jonah Lomu debuted for. The game also honoured Lomu’s memory with a fundraiser, donating parts of ticket sales to Hospice New Zealand.

Lomu’s two sons, Dhyreille and Brayley Lomu, delivered the match ball at the start of the game.

Lomu played 28 games for his hometown Counties-Manukau between 1994 and 1999, scoring 19 tries. From 2000 to 2003, Lomu played for Wellington where he scored 13 tries.