The son of late All Blacks icon Jonah Lomu has made a shock revelation \u2013 if he follows his famous father into rugby, it\u2019s France he wants to represent.<\/p>\n
Dhyreille Jonah Lomu, a winger like his dad, was born in France during Jonah\u2019s brief stint with Marseille, meaning international eligibility wouldn\u2019t be an issue.<\/p>\n
Join RUCK\u2019s Instagram broadcast channel\u00a0<\/a>and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.<\/p>\n Nicknamed\u00a0\u2018Frenchie\u2019\u00a0at school in New Zealand, Dhyreille is already turning heads at age-grade tournaments and is showing early signs of serious talent.<\/p>\n Jonah\u2019s time in France came towards the end of his glittering career, which also included a spell at Cardiff Blues. Tragically, the global rugby superstar passed away in 2015.<\/p>\n Jonah finished with\u00a063 caps and 37 tries\u00a0for New Zealand \u2013 and is still widely regarded as the game\u2019s first global megastar.<\/p>\n But while Jonah lit up the rugby field, his sons Brayley, 15, and Dhyreille, 14, are carving their own path \u2013 with a tennis ball, not a rugby one.<\/p>\n Their dream of becoming professional athletes led to a switch three years ago from traditional schooling to Te Kura, New Zealand\u2019s correspondence school, so they could maximise their training time.<\/p>\n \u201cProfessional sport is hard, but playing tennis is our life. I love all kinds of exercise, and doing online school means we can fit in a lot more training,\u201d\u00a0says Dhyreille, who strongly resembles his famous dad.\u00a0\u201cDepending on when we can get court time, I can be playing tennis from 9am until about 7.30pm.\u201d<\/p>\n Their mum Nadene, and grandfather Mervyn, play a huge role in their development \u2013 with Mervyn often coaching and shuttling the boys across Auckland for court time.<\/p>\n \u201cThe love within our family is pretty special,\u201d\u00a0says Nadene.\u00a0\u201cDad and the boys cruise and gym together. I\u2019m very grateful to have parents who love me.\u201d<\/p>\n The brothers are humble and well-mannered \u2013 quick to help, respectful, and focused. Brayley is the quieter of the two, but admits:<\/p>\n \u201cDhyreille is the most competitive by far!\u201d<\/p>\n LATEST RUGBY NEWS:<\/p>\n Sir Ian McGeechan ranks the 10 best rugby wingers of all-time<\/p>\n Renowned rugby expert and legendary figure in British and Irish rugby, Sir Ian McGeechan, recently took on the daunting task of curating a list of the top 10 greatest wingers who have left an indelible mark on the sport. <\/p>\n 10. Rory Underwood (England) <\/p>\n McGeechan said: \u201cMaybe not quite as clever as some of the others but a lethal finisher who was exceptionally quick and very, very strong.\u201d wrote McGeechan.<\/p>\n 9. Shane Williams (Wales)<\/p>\n The pint-sized Welsh wizard weaved his magic on the field, showcasing dazzling footwork and a natural rugby intellect that belied his stature.<\/p>\n McGeechan said: \u201cDefied convention because he was so small, but he was powerful and sharp. Wales have not been the same attacking force since he finished. He could raise their game on his own.\u201d<\/p>\n 8. Ieuan Evans (Wales)<\/p>\n Another Welsh legend, Evans possessed a keen rugby mind and an uncanny ability to find the try line in crucial moments.<\/p>\n McGeechan said: \u201cAlways one of my favourites because of my experiences with him as a British and Irish Lion. Like all the Welsh wingers, he had such a good sidestep but could combine acceleration with that. He was a superb finisher, especially in tight situations.\u201d<\/p>\n CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n