Samoan international to play Jonah Lomu in movie

A former Samoan rugby player will play Jonah Lomu in a Clint Eastwood movie on the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A former Samoan rugby player will play former All Black Jonah Lomu in a Clint Eastwood movie on the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

The Human Factor revolves around former South African president Nelson Mandela's appearance at the Springboks-All Blacks final, which was seen as a turning point in South Africa's post-apartheid history. The Springboks won.

The film stars Morgan Freeman as Mandela and Matt Damon as Boks captain Francois Pienaar.

New Zealand-born former Samoan international and Wellington Lion Zak Feaunati will play Lomu.

"I had to talk about myself for the casting director, and then she asked me to do the haka. I might have scared one or two of the ladies, but I guess it did the trick," Feaunati, who is head of rugby at Bishop Vesey's Grammar School in England's Midlands, told the BBC.

Feaunati, 35, has a similar stature to Lomu; he is 1.88m and 117kg, while the All Blacks great was 1.96m and 119kg in his playing days.

- NZPA