Wife tried to donate kidney to Lomu

Nadene Lomu is comforted by family members during the public memorial for her husband, Jonah, at Eden Park in Auckland in November. Photo NZ Herald

Jonah Lomu's widow has spoken out for the first time since his death -- revealing she had tried to donate one of her kidneys to the father of her children months before his sudden death.

Heartbreakingly, however, the pair were not compatible.

In an interview on Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint programme, Mrs Lomu told journalist John Campbell about what she had hoped to be a happy surprise for her husband and, ultimately, their family.

"I got the forms ready and we needed the blood test papers so I went and got those done. And then I said, 'Jonah, I want to help you'."

She told the programme Lomu was excited at the news and the couple were tested shortly before the family flew to the United Kingdom for the Rugby World Cup.

We said we did not want to get too excited in case we were not compatible, she said.