'Cattle-loving' Hughes wanted to sell 200 bulls a year post retirement

As family, friends, former teammates and cricket greats gathered in thousands at Macksville on Wednesday for late batsman Phillip Hughes' funeral, his close friend Corey Ireland delivered a heart-melting tribute explaining that his cattle-loving late friend wanted to sell 200 bulls a year.

Pallbearers carried Hughes' coffin into the venue before ' Forever Young' played over the speakers as the funeral took place in the late batsman's hometown. Hughes passed away, aged 25, last Thursday after a tragic accident at the SCG.

After Australian cricket team captain Michael Clarke delivered an emotional and heart-melting tribute to his 'little brother, Ireland delivered a tribute, explaining the cattle-loving Hughes was as passionate about the farm as he was about cricket, News.com.au reported.

Ireland also revealed that Hughes was beginning to plan for life after cricket, dreaming of running a cattle farm and selling 200 bulls a year. Ireland then promised he would keep that dream alive.

Hughes' cousin Nino Ramunno also delivered the eulogy on behalf of the family, describing the late batsman as one of a kind while relaying stories of his early childhood in an extended Italian family.

In heartbreaking scenes, Hughes' mother Virginia broke down as Ramunno explained how his cousin was a 'mummy's boy' and would call her every day.

Hughes' brother Jason then read out a letter he had written to help him express his feelings, saying that he couldn't have asked for a better little brother, adding that from a very young age, Hughes was destined to be a rock star.

Hughes' younger sister Megan also showed remarkable strength to speak in front of the packed venue, saying that she is so honoured to call him her brother, best friend and hero.

The service closed with Hughes carried out as Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me played, with the late batsman's his distraught father Greg leading the pallbearers, the report added.