Lomu’s boys join France 2023 bid
FRANCE turned to Jonah Lomu’s sons yesterday in a bizarre attempt to win the right to stage the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Dhyreille, seven, and Brayley, eight, sons of the late great All Black, flew from New Zealand to help present France’s bid in London. Dhyreille even spoke to the World Rugby council. Sebastien Chabal, the former France lock who sat with the boys on his lap at the press conference, explained: ‘Jonah loved France. This is where they saw their dad playing rugby. ‘Dhyreille was born in Marseilles when Jonah played for them (in 2009-10). At home in New Zealand he is known as “Frenchy”. The boys said that they would love to come back in 2023 to experience the Rugby World Cup in a country where their father was so happy. ‘They are proud of their dual nationality, that is why they’re here today.’ In fact, Lomu only made a handful of appearances for Marseille at the end of his career and France’s move looked opportunistic at best. The rugby icon died aged just 40 in 2015, after a long kidney illness.