Michael Jones has expressed his honour at being asked to be a pallbearer for former team-mate and fellow All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu.

Lomu died this month at the age of 40, leading to an outpouring of grief from the rugby world and beyond as sport mourned one if its most iconic figures.

Monday saw a public memorial service held for Lomu at Eden Park in Auckland and Jones – winner of 55 New Zealand caps – was one of 10 men to carry the coffin.

"Just coming down that tunnel, we went to battle a lot together for the All Blacks and the Blues here – this is the spiritual home of New Zealand rugby and it's the field of dreams for all of us," Jones said.

"There was probably a lot of who could of done that because be had some really close mates so I just felt honoured to represent them.

"We were thankful that we had a government that was ready to make it happen and help where they could put some resources to it knowing that this is just as big as it gets when such a big totara falls. 

"We've had such great help in every way and it's just a reflection that Jonah was so loved by so many at every sphere of society – from the kids at Favona Primary to the very top of our society in terms of leadership."