Lomu: I live and breathe my son

Photo: Lawrence Smith

Living in France: Nadene Quirk and Braylee, the nine-month-old son of Jonah Lomu.

Jonah Lomu

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JONAH LOMU used to strike fear into the hearts of rugby players all over the planet. Now he's like putty in the hands of his nine-month-old son Brayley.

This is the new Lomu. Father of a baby boy, ensconced in the south of France, back playing rugby, and with a contentedness about him that suggests he's a changed man.

Yes, fatherhood suits Lomu.

"I couldn't be any happier," said Lomu in an interview with the Sunday Star-Times in Marseille where he, partner Nadene Quirk and baby Brayley have made their home.

"It's the best place to bring up my son. It's fantastic. My son can see the world, learn another language, another culture, and you can't argue with the weather – guaranteed 300-plus days of sunshine.

"Before I signed any contracts I told them if my family's happy, I'm happy, and I'll deliver what I need to deliver for the club."

Lomu, 34, has just started a three-year deal playing with Marseille-Vitrolles in the French third division. He has also kicked off language lessons, is searching for a new home, and continues to juggle his commitments to an array of sponsors and causes.

But top of his priority list is the apple of his eye, son Brayley, and the unconditional love he inspires.

Lomu declares unashamedly he's a new man. "Your priorities completely change, in terms of you don't want anything to happen to him. Your shopping list changes too. It's good – cleansing for the soul. You could have a real crappy day, come home and he'll smile at you, and it just changes everything.

"I never quite understood what my parents had meant by `until you have your own child you'll never understand what it means to be a dad'. It's given me a completely different perspective on life.

"I live and breathe my son. This is what it is."

But, most importantly, is he pulling his weight? Changing nappies? He smiles. "You do, and making bottles. I don't mind that. Nadene has to tell me to stop feeding him. I'm just sitting there, and he's too cute not to give him what he wants."

Lomu says at this stage they have no plans for Brayley's first Christmas, other than it will be somewhere in Europe.

"We've basically got the key to Europe here, three-and-a-half hours from Venice, three hours from Spain. We'll see. We might be in Paris for Christmas, and catch up with some friends."

Lomu reports that Brayley is already active, crawling at pace and giving every indication he won't be long from breaking into stride.

"He's already trying to stand and when you pick him up you can see his little feet are starting to try and run."

But Lomu did confirm that the rather large rock on Nadene's ring finger did not signify any pending nuptials. Not yet anyway.

"No. It's just a present from me. There's nothing like that yet. We've got enough on at the moment as it is."