Tongan rugby legend, Jonah Lomu arrived in Tonga this morning, July 12, 2011 with a 70 member delegation led by New Zealand Foreign Minister Hon Murray McCully on the 2011 Pacific Mission that includes Samoa, Cook Islands and Niue.

The 36-year-old towering rugby star returns to Tonga after 15 years made his first public appearance in central Nuku'alofa during an autograph signing with Samoan rugby player Ofisa Tonu'u at the ANZ Nuku'alofa branch.

The excited crowd included children, students and rugby fans that queued up for a personal moment and an autograph with the man himself.

Tomorrow, July 13 at 9.00am Jonah and the Rugby NZ2011 CEO Martin Snedden will hold a rugby clinic at Pangai Lahi.

"The annual Pacific Mission provides an opportunity for a wide range of New Zealand representatives to meet with their Pacific counterparts on issues such as trade and investment, development assistance, and cultural and sporting ties," Hon McCully said in Tonga.

He added at the same time the mission also highlighted the 2011 Rugby World Cup and Jonah together with Martin Snedden were to promote the World Cup and the game of rugby to young Pacific people.

The delegation departs Tonga on July 13 returning to New Zealand on July 16.

Photos: Jonah holds rugby clinic at Pangai Lahi [2]