International Players Association backs Jonah Lomu Legacy trust

Jonah Lomu (C) runs over England's Neil Back (bottom) on the way to the try line at Twickenham in 2002. Photo/Getty.

The International Rugby Players Association has added its support to the Jonah Lomu Legacy Trust by launching its own online donation site.

The New Zealand Rugby Players Association launched the trust last week to help provide for Lomu's young sons, Dhyreille, 6, and Brayley, 5, following their father's sudden death last month.

It was revealed the 40-year-old 63-test veteran effectively had no money in the bank when he died.

The IRPA said 100 percent of the contributions to its donation site would go to the trust.

With the trust established, NZRPA chief executive Rob Nichol last week confirmed benefit games were among the many different ideas being considered to help raise funds.

The idea of a benefit match being staged at Twickenham in honour of Lomu received the backing of former All Black lock Ali Williams.

"To hold a match like that for Jonah at Twickenham, it's going to take a little bit of work but it's not hard and it's the place that everyone would love to honour such a great man," Williams told Radio Sport.

"It's not hard to put on games like that, it just takes a little bit of effort and know-how to do those things."

Former Pumas captain Felipe Contepomi echoed Williams' enthusiasm for the idea of a Lomu benefit match and said world rugby needs to recognise the role he played in raising the profile of the game.

"I hope that game is played and I hope that every single rugby player is keen to go and participate in such a good cause, to help Jonah's family," Contepomi told Radio Sport.