Jonah Lomu changed the game. He remains one of the most recognised names in world rugby, and protecting that name, image, and legacy has been a responsibility Nadene Lomu has carried for over a decade.
All rights to Jonah's name, image, and likeness are now formally and legally secured in Nadene's name, through a Deed of Transfer, Vesting Deed, and IP Assignment Deeds, with the associated trademarks recognised through the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) and now formally recognised by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
"This has always been what Jonah wanted. It has simply taken a decade to reach the destination he intended, and that destination was always me, as his wife and the mother of our sons," says Nadene Lomu, Managing Director of Jonah Lomu 7 ONE 5 Ltd and Founder & Chair of The Jonah Lomu Foundation.
This recognition matters. It means that every product, partnership, and initiative carrying Jonah's name today, from the Jonah Lomu 7 ONE 5 brand to The Jonah Lomu Foundation and the Lomu Legacy International U18 Sevens, is built on a clear, protected, and legitimate foundation. It also means that anyone using Jonah's name or image commercially without authorisation is doing so without legal standing.
But this protection was never the end goal in itself, it is what allows the family to build with confidence. "We are genuinely excited about what the Lomu Legacy International U18 Sevens stands for: a tournament that brings together the next generation of talent from Aotearoa and around the world, and gives back directly to the communities that shaped Jonah and continue to shape the game today. Every partnership we build, and every dollar the Foundation raises, is about investing in young people and the communities behind them," Nadene adds.
This is not just paperwork. It is a promise kept: that Jonah's legacy is protected, honoured, and carried forward the right way, for his sons, for the next generation coming through, and for the communities his name continues to support.