Jonah Lomu’s wife at the time of his death was Nadene Lomu, whom he married in 2011. Together they had two sons, Brayley and Dhyreille. Nadene was his third wife: Lomu was earlier married to South African Tanya Rutter from 1996 and to Fiona, whom he wed in 2003 and divorced in 2008.
The All Blacks great died in Auckland on 18 November 2015, aged 40. His family has been back in the news in 2026 because of the documentary LOMU, which premiered in Auckland in August, and because his mother, Hepi Lomu, spoke publicly in September about not seeing her grandsons.
Quick facts
| Name | Jonah Tali Lomu |
| Born | 12 May 1975, Pukekohe, Auckland |
| Died | 18 November 2015, Auckland (aged 40) |
| Occupation | Rugby union wing, All Blacks (63 tests, 37 tries) |
| Wife | Nadene Lomu (married 2011) |
| Previous marriages | Tanya Rutter (1996, divorced after four years); Fiona (2003–2008) |
| Children | Two sons, Brayley and Dhyreille |
| Mother | Hepi Lomu |
| Heritage | Tongan; parents emigrated from Haʻapai |
Jonah Lomu’s wives
Lomu married three times, and each marriage fell during a different stage of his playing career and his illness.
| Wife | Married | Ended |
|---|---|---|
| Tanya Rutter | 1996 | Divorced after four years |
| Fiona | August 2003, secret ceremony on Waiheke Island | Divorced 2008 |
| Nadene Lomu | 2011 | Married until his death in 2015 |
Tanya Rutter was South African. They married in 1996, the year after the Rugby World Cup in South Africa turned Lomu into a global star.
Fiona married him in August 2003 in a secret ceremony on Waiheke Island. By then his kidney disease was severe: in May 2003 he was on dialysis three times a week, and the transplant that followed came in July 2004. The couple divorced in 2008.
Nadene Lomu is his widow. They married in 2011 and were living together with their two sons when he died. The night before his death the family had flown home from the United Kingdom after a short holiday stay in Dubai.
Nadene Lomu and the LOMU documentary
Nadene did not take part in LOMU, the 2026 documentary by Vea Mafile’o and Gavin Fitzgerald. According to 1News, she initially discussed the film with the makers but chose not to participate, and in 2023 she took legal action to stop it. That action failed and the film went ahead with $800,000 of funding from the New Zealand Film Commission. In an interview the year before, she said: “Jonah wasn’t public property.”
How Lomu died, and what the documentary covers, is set out in our article on Jonah Lomu’s cause of death.
Jonah Lomu’s children
Lomu and Nadene have two sons, Brayley and Dhyreille. 1News described them in September 2026 as being in their mid-to-late teens. The family has kept the boys out of the public eye, and there is little public information about them beyond their names.
Lomu’s will gave control of his money, trademark and properties to his lawyer, Chris Darlow, for the benefit of his sons, 1News reported. Separately, a month after his death the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association set up an independent trust, the Jonah Lomu Legacy Trust.
Jonah Lomu’s mum, Hepi Lomu
Lomu’s mother is Hepi Lomu. In September 2026 she told 1News that she has not seen her grandsons for years: “I haven’t seen them. Maybe a long time ago after Jonah died [his wife Nadene Lomu] bring the boys here, but that’s all. I pray God is going to touch those two and one day, we can meet.”
Jonah Lomu’s family background
Lomu was born in Pukekohe to Tongan parents who had emigrated from Haʻapai. He spent part of his early childhood in Holopeka, Tonga, with his aunt Longo and uncle Mosese, before returning to the Auckland suburb of Māngere. He went to Wesley College and made his All Blacks debut in 1994 at 19 years and 45 days.
Māngere still claims him. In August 2026 the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board gave $10,000 towards South Auckland LOMU Day at the Māngere Town Centre on 29 August. Board member Joe Glassie-Rasmussen told the meeting: “He’s a son of Māngere, team.”
Frequently asked questions
Who was Jonah Lomu’s wife when he died?
Nadene Lomu. They married in 2011 and were together until his death on 18 November 2015.
How many times was Jonah Lomu married?
Three times: to Tanya Rutter (1996), to Fiona (2003, divorced 2008) and to Nadene (2011).
How many children did Jonah Lomu have?
Two sons with Nadene, Brayley and Dhyreille. As of September 2026 they are in their mid-to-late teens.
Who is Jonah Lomu’s mum?
Hepi Lomu. His parents were Tongan and had emigrated from Haʻapai.
Did Nadene Lomu take part in the Lomu documentary?
No. She chose not to participate and in 2023 took unsuccessful legal action to block the film, according to 1News.
