Sean Wainui’s family have thanked the wider community for their outpouring of “love and generosity” following his death earlier this week.
The 25-year-old Chiefs, Bay of Plenty and Māori All Blacks star died in a car crash near Tauranga on Monday morning.
“We just want to thank everyone for their love and generosity. The beautiful tributes that have come from those who loved him all across the world means a lot to us all,” the Wainui whānau said in a statement on Friday.
“We understand there are many hurting right now and wanting to hear from the whānau, but please respect that we have just lost our baby brother, a son, a husband and a father and our focus right now is healing and laying my brother to rest.
“Thank you all again for respecting the whānau's wishes.”
Wainui’s tangi will be held at Te Wainui Marae in Gisborne on Sunday.
Numbers will be limited due to current Covid-19 restrictions.
The NPC match between Bay of Plenty and Northland, scheduled to be played at Tauranga Domain this Sunday, has been postponed.
“After consulting with their playing groups, both unions agreed it did not feel appropriate to play on the day of Sean Wainui’s tangi,” New Zealand Rugby said in a statement.
The parents of All Black Te Toiora Tahuriorangi, who was Wainui’s best mate at the Chiefs, feel like they have lost a son as well. (Source: Other)
Details on the rescheduled match will be announced in due course.
New Zealand Rugby has asked the wider rugby community to pay their respects to Wainui and his whānau prior to all NPC and Heartland Championship matches this weekend.
“Players, coaches, managers and match officials will be wearing black armbands and Sean will also be acknowledged via a special tribute and moment's silence prior to each match this weekend.”
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