• Nadene Lomu claims her sons were barred from using tennis courts due to her father’s lack of coaching credentials.
• Tennis Auckland said it wasn’t aware who was being coached and needed to ensure coaches at its facilities had certain credentials.
• Nadene Lomu says her sons ‘have what it takes to reach the world stage if they work hard enough’.

The widow of All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu says the couple’s boys were locked out of using tennis courts after a dispute over her father’s lack of coaching credentials.

Mervyn Quirk, Nadene Lomu’s dad, this month took his grandsons, Brayley and Dhyreille Lomu, to Auckland’s Merton Rd tennis facilities to practise. The boys had previously used and paid for tennis court hire, but they could not book a court online that day because the booking system was down, Nadene Lomu said.

Quirk has been coaching the teens for several years and when the trio turned up to the tennis centre, one court was vacant.

“My dad checked with other coaches to see if they were about to use it,” Nadene Lomu told the Herald.

“Some coaches said it was fine for them to use, another told my dad to call Auckland Tennis, so he did.”

Jonah Lomu holds off England's David Rees in 1997. Photo / Getty Images

Then things turned sour, she said.

Quirk called Simon Crozier, Auckland Tennis domestic tournament and tennis centre manager. That’s when the issue arose of Quirk not having the required qualifications to coach at Tennis Auckland’s facilities, Lomu told the Herald.

“I’m well aware my dad isn’t a qualified coach, nor does he hold a coach’s certificate, but that doesn’t matter to the boys and me and I know Jonah wouldn’t let that stop his boys from striving to achieve the dreams they have,” she said.

“Dad is trying to help our boys – his grandsons – with their tennis aspirations so they can be the best they can and hopefully reach the world stage one day.”

Mervyn Quirk (left) pictured with tennis coach Mark Flannery, Brayley, 15, and Dhyreille Lomu 14.

Crozier said had Quirk not called him, the matter would probably never have come to a head.

Lomu claims Quirk disclosed he was at the courts with his grandsons, while Crozier said he wasn’t aware during the conversation who was being coached.

Crozier said Auckland and New Zealand Tennis had an obligation to ensure all coaches using their facilities had the proper credentials.

“I have been working with Merv to make sure he meets the criteria,” Crozier said.

“He does a bit of coaching at our various facilities and there are criteria I need him to meet. Tennis Auckland is doing its best to make sure our coaches are appropriate and professionals.

“I need Mervyn to complete that to ensure he is appropriate to work at a centre. I don’t know who he was coaching, but [only that he] wanted to book a court.

“Having come to me and asked me [to use the court], I had to outline what criteria he needed. I had to deal with him as a coach.”

Lomu, who recently lost a court case against the executor of Jonah’s estate, said her dad did not want to be a professional tennis coach, only help his grandchildren reach their potential in whatever sport that may be.

Brayley and Dhyreille Lomu with their mum Nadene.

“Disappointed is an absolute understatement,” Nadene said of the situation.

“Pathetic call by Tennis Auckland when you have problems with my dad coaching mine and Jonah’s sons to be the best they can be with tennis.

“We’ve had enough adversity to last us our lifetime with the biggest heartbreak in losing their dad.

“Tennis is a sport for the privileged and it’s challenging enough with it being such an expensive sport for our Pacific Islands people.

“Brayley and Dhyreille are part of the PI [Pacific Islands] community who have phenomenal talent as PI kids, but taking tennis to the next level comes at a cost, literally. It’s a family sacrifice and commitment. “I know Jonah would be so grateful to my dad for the help and commitment he has made to Brayley and Dhyreille. Dad’s life revolves around helping our boys achieve their dreams.

“He does it because of the love he has for us and belief in knowing the boys have what it takes to reach the world stage if they work hard enough.

“Without a tennis court they can’t put in the work required; more importantly, without my dad they won’t be able to chase their tennis dreams and follow their father’s footsteps to be their own individuals and help everyone they possibly can along the way.”