Fatherhood inspires Tyrel Lomax to reconnect with his Maoritanga

There is a lot to love about the story Tyrel Lomax shared this week, and it has nothing to do with a scrum.

As RNZ reported, the All Blacks prop says becoming a father has inspired him to reconnect with his Maoritanga, determined to give his tamariki the cultural grounding he felt he missed as a boy.

Lomax, who affiliates to Tuhoe and Muaupoko, spent much of his childhood moving back and forth between New Zealand and Australia. "I spent a lot of my childhood going back and forth from New Zealand to Australia, so I was a little bit distant from te ao Maori," he told RNZ.

Becoming a parent changed that. RNZ reported that both of his young children attend kohanga reo, with his daughter set to start at a kura kaupapa Maori next year. His wife is Australian, and the couple are firmly committed to supporting their tamariki through Maori-medium education, a beautiful example of a family learning and growing together.

The timing of the story was lovely too. RNZ noted Lomax was among a ropu of All Blacks who spent Tuesday morning at Birkenhead Primary School on Auckland's North Shore, joining the tamariki for classroom activities, kapa haka and a barbecue before the squad flew out for South Africa. For a group of kids, sharing a morning with the All Blacks is the kind of memory that lasts a lifetime.

Lomax, who celebrated his 50th Test in June, spoke warmly about what it means for rangatahi Maori to see themselves reflected in the team, and about the value of dreaming big. "If your dreams don't sound crazy, then you're not dreaming big enough," he told RNZ.

It is a reminder that the jersey carries responsibility well beyond the field. As Lomax heads off on one of the toughest tours in world rugby, he does so as a proud dad passing on te reo and tikanga to the next generation, and taking a little of that spirit into a local classroom on the way to the airport.

That is a story every whanau can smile about.