The family of the late Sean Wainui walk with an Ireland jersey following a tribute before the match. Photo / Getty
The family of the late Sean Wainui walk with an Ireland jersey following a tribute before the match. Photo / Getty
The Māori All Blacks and Ireland paid tribute to late Kiwi rugby star Sean Wainui ahead of their clash in Hamilton on Wednesday evening.
Wainui, who was a key member of the Māori All Blacks during his career, was remembered ahead of Ireland's first match of their New Zealand tour.
It was the first Māori All Blacks match since Wainui's death in October last year at just 25 years old.
Ireland's captain for the clash, Bundee Aki, placed a No 11 Ireland jersey (Wainui's main jersey number during his career) on the field ahead of a powerful Māori All Blacks haka in tribute to their teammate.
Wainui's wife Paige and their two children, son Kawariki and daughter Arahia, then walked onto the pitch to collect the jersey in an emotional moment prior to the match.
