Eddie McGuire will conduct Shane Warne’s private funeral with 80 guests from Sam Newman to Crown Casino’s founder and a host of cricket and AFL stars
- Eddie McGuire to host Shane Warne’s private funeral service on Sunday
- Up to 80 friends and family will attend including AFL legends and celebrities
- Former England captain Michael Vaughan has flown in for the service
- Ex-fiancée Elizabeth Hurley revealed heartbreak at not being able to attend
- State funeral for Warne on March 30 will have more than 50,000 in attendance
- Elton John, Chris Martin and Ed Sheeran to record musical performances
Shane Warne’s private funeral will be a star-studded affair with dozens of celebrities appearing alongside close friends and family.
Warne died suddenly from a heart attack while holidaying on the Thai island of Koh Samui earlier this month, leaving behind his three grieving children and millions of fans around the world.
The Victorian Government will hold a state funeral on March 30 at the MCG, where a stand has been renamed in his honour and more than 50,000 people will attend.
Warne was farewelled by up to 80 close friends and family members, with Eddie McGuire hosting the proceedings, with the Fox Footy host describing him as ‘Superman’.
‘The reason why he was so loved is because he was fallible, he was Superman. You threw the ball to Warne, you sat in that Southern Stand and he did the things you dreamt of doing as a kid,’ McGuire said on Sunday.
On Sunday, Warne will be farewelled by up to 80 close friends and family members, with Eddie McGuire set to host the proceedings
McGuire said Warne never lost sight of who he was regardless of the fame he garnered around the world, ordering pizza from Michelin star restaurants.
‘The magic part about Shane Warne was that he sprinkled his gold dust everywhere he went,’ he said during the private service.
‘He didn’t become a hermit, He brought his friends into everything in life.
‘He could walk with kings but never forgot those who walked around the streets of Melbourne.’
AFL legend Sam Newman, and former St Kilda players Nick Riewoldt and Brendon Goddard are also expected to attend the service.
‘I’m going and I’m humbled to be invited. Like all funerals I think it’s going to be a sombre affair and emotional,’ Newman said.
‘This was extremely shocking to everyone who knew of Shane and to those that knew him well.’
Close friends from the cricketing community will pay their respects, including former England captain Michael Vaughan who has flown in for the funeral.
Australians players Michael Clarke, Glenn McGrath, Darren Berry, Mark Taylor, and Glenn Maxwell will also attend.
Warne’s poker mates Aaron Hamill, Steven Baker, Luke Tunnecliffe, Campbell Brown, Tony Hachem and Dimitri Mascarenhas will also show up.
But his ex-fiancée and movie star Elizabeth Hurley shared her agony in not being able to attend the service.
Shane Warne’s ex-fiancée Elizabeth Hurley, 56, has shared her ‘heartache’ as she won’t make it to Australia in time for the cricketer’s private funeral following his tragic death age 52. Pictured together in 2012
The British actress, 56, shared the news to Instagram on Sunday and said the cricketer’s tragic death ‘still hasn’t really sunk in’.
‘My heart aches that I can’t be in Australia tomorrow for Shane’s funeral. I was filming last night and, with the time jump, physically can’t get there,’ she wrote.
‘It still hasn’t really sunk in that he’s gone.
‘It seems too cruel that all the people who loved him will never have another Lion hug, but our memories will live forever. RIP Lionheart, with love your Luna.’
Billionaire James Packer was also invited but he is unable to attend, however Crown Casino founder Lloyd Williams will be there.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin (left) and Ed Sheeran (right) will record musical performances for Warne’s March 30 state funeral
Elton John is expected to perform live via video link for Shane Warne’s state funeral on March 30 at his beloved MCG
On March 30, dozens more celebrities are expected to fly in from around the country and the world, while others will offer video tributes including musical performances from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and Ed Sheeran.
Martin and Sheeran will record musical performances, while Elton John may perform live via video link as he is on tour.
Exact numbers are yet to be confirmed, with tickets set to be released on Tuesday and will give a better idea of the size of the crowd.
More than 50,000 fans will be allowed to attend through a public ballot.
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