Jonah Lomu’s Family Locked Out of Tennis Courts Over Coaching Dispute
Nadene Lomu, widow of All Blacks rugby legend Jonah Lomu, has spoken out after her sons, Brayley and Dhyreille, were denied access to tennis courts. The situation arose because her father, Mervyn Quirk, who has been coaching the boys, does not hold official coaching credentials.
Recently, Quirk took the boys to the Merton Rd tennis facility in Auckland for practice. Although the boys had previously rented and used courts there, they couldn’t book one that day due to a system outage. When they arrived, they found a vacant court, and Quirk asked other coaches on-site if it was okay to use. Most gave their approval, but one coach advised him to call Auckland Tennis for confirmation.
When Quirk contacted Simon Crozier, Auckland Tennis’ manager for domestic tournaments and facilities, the focus shifted to his qualifications as a coach. According to Crozier, all coaches using Auckland Tennis facilities must meet specific credential requirements. Quirk, who has been informally coaching his grandsons for years, does not hold an official coaching certificate.
Nadene Lomu acknowledged this but expressed frustration, saying, “My dad isn’t a qualified coach, but that doesn’t matter to us. He’s helping the boys work toward their dreams. Jonah would have supported that.” She emphasized that her father’s primary goal is to help his grandsons succeed, not to work as a professional tennis coach.
Crozier explained that the rules are in place to ensure all coaching at the facility is professional and appropriate. “We’ve been working with Mervyn to help him meet the necessary criteria,” he said. “When he called to ask about the court, I had to clarify the requirements for using our facilities.”
For Nadene, however, the incident feels like an unnecessary barrier. “This is a pathetic decision by Tennis Auckland,” she said. “We’ve already endured enough adversity, including the loss of Jonah. Tennis is an expensive sport, especially for Pacific Island families like ours. Brayley and Dhyreille have so much potential, but the financial burden and now these roadblocks make it even harder.”
She highlighted the sacrifices her family has made to support the boys’ tennis journey. “My dad’s life revolves around helping the boys achieve their dreams. He does it out of love and belief in their talent. Without a tennis court, they can’t put in the work they need. Without my dad’s guidance, they can’t chase their dreams.”
Nadene also spoke about the broader challenges Pacific Island families face in competitive sports. “Tennis is often seen as a sport for the privileged. For families like ours, it’s a major sacrifice. Jonah would have been so proud of the boys and my dad for the commitment they’ve shown.”
Despite the setback, Nadene remains determined to push through. “Dad isn’t trying to become a professional coach; he just wants to help his grandsons reach their potential. Jonah always believed in breaking barriers, and we’re going to keep fighting to give the boys the opportunities they deserve.”
