Former All Blacks loose forward Sione Lauaki has been farewelled by hundreds of friends and family at a service in west Auckland.
The Chiefs player, who made 17 Test appearances for New Zealand between 2005 and 2008, died last week of renal failure, aged 35.
A funeral was held for the Tongan-born player in Te Atatu, with a number of former and current rugby stars in attendance.
Current All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster, who formerly coached Lauaki at the Chiefs, addressed the service.
He characterised the father-of-five as a man who was mischievous but also slow to trust, taking his time to let people into his life.
"Today we both celebrate the life and mourn the loss of a part of our All Blacks family," Foster said.
"We celebrate the life and mourn the loss of a great man, and one that means so much to us."
