Wesley College

Wesley College, at Paerata, south of Auckland, is marking 175 years after being established by the Wesleyan Missionary Society in October 1844.

The school is well known for producing more recent All Blacks than any other school in the country, most notably Jonah Lomu.

Originally a boys' school in recent times Wesley has been also produced a number of high achieving female sports stars.

There has also been significant success in academia, the arts, business and politics at home and internationally.

Yesterday, students and staff at the school south of Auckland, were stunned by his sudden death.

One of his teachers, Richard Smythe, said Lomu at first showed no interest in rugby.

"He was always telling me he was going to run away from the school in the weekends and go and play league with his mates."

Smythe said the first time Lomu played rugby, there was "nothing".