Lomu concedes All Blacks dream is over

[NewsBot]

Lomu concedes All Blacks dream is over

Rugby great Jonah Lomu, who returned to game last year after a kidney transplant in the hope of playing in next year's World Cup, has conceded that his dream of regaining his All Blacks jersey is over.

[Flamethrower]

It's a shame that a great player has to retire this way.Jonah in full flight was awsome to watch and made glad you were not the one standing in his path.

[Jess]

Yeah he taught us all 'why run around someone, when you can just run over them?'

He truly was an exciting player to watch and I hope despite not being able to make the All Blacks again, he will still be able to live a fulfilling life and remain heavily involved in the New Zealand rugby community.

Best of luck Jonah!

[JediKnight]

A sad way to end his International career but what a player he was in his prime! He changed the shape of backs forever!

[.X.]

Any reason why Mitch shouldnt give him a call and say "hey bro, come play with the Force?"

can you imagine him coming off the bench, now that is the ultimate impact player.

[JediKnight]

I can just imagine him thundering down the wing at Subi Oval!!!! What a draw card = even more membership!!!!

[RugbyFan]

If it were up to me, i'd sign him. He's awesome..

[Burgs]

It's one less position for an Australian player to get experience however, perhaps it is a good move for Melbourne as a mobile billboard?

Jonah considers Australia move

Friday, October 6, 2006

Former All Blacks wrecking ball Jonah Lomu will consider prolonging his career in Australia's new national rugby competition next year.

Lomu, who returned to English club and New Zealand provincial rugby after a kidney transplant in 2004, said earlier this week he'd given up hope of representing the All Blacks at next year's Rugby World Cup but had no intention of hanging up his boots.

"We certainly wouldn't turn away any conversations with regards to playing opportunities," Fiona Lomu, Jonah's wife and manager, told AAP today.

"I guess it's not a common move for New Zealand players but ... the competition's changed a lot both here and in Australia and there are new opportunities that could be something that we would look at."

Should he link with one of the eight new clubs, Lomu's marquee player role would be similar to that Dwight Yorke played at A-League club Sydney FC - part on-field inspiration, part off-field marketing tool.

Fiona Lomu said she wasn't sure how much the 31-year-old's star value would be worth to a new club in a fledgling competition.

"I guess that's up to the club, he's a valuable player in his own right," she said.

"Obviously he has a reputation and history and I guess that goes with that.

"(Money's) never been the primary driver for him ever in his career so it's certainly not how we approach decision-making."

She said she was unaware of reports already linking her husband to the new competition and admitted knowing little about it.

The provincial tournament - scheduled to begin in August 2007 - will feature three teams from NSW, two from Queensland and sides from Canberra, Perth and Melbourne.

The ARU has called for expressions of interest from non-contracted players who wish to be considered for the competition.

Starting from scratch in AFL territory, the Melbourne club could potentially benefit most from the signature of one of rugby's biggest names.

"Jonah would be a terrific asset and we'd be a terrific asset for Jonah," Victorian Rugby Union manager Ron Steiner said today.

"We're happy to talk to anybody to promote us but our primary interest at the moment is to develop people who have a genuine commitment to developing Victorian rugby."

Lomu, who made the last of his 73 appearances for the All Blacks in 2002, joined Welsh club Cardiff in 2005 before returning to New Zealand to play for North Harbour in the National Provincial Championship.

He has only started one match this season and was recently dropped to the second XV.

The barnstorming winger has since failed to attract a Super 14 contract for next season.

"Where we're at, at the moment is we've got three weeks of the NPC season in New Zealand to run," Fiona Lomu said.

"It's all pretty early days in terms of looking at going forward, the decision was only made about the Super 14 about 10, 14 days ago so it's a bit early.

"We've got a few things in front of us, some pretty interesting proposals and we're just going to take some time for Jonah to consider that and go forward.

"But we're open to opportunities which people put in front of us.

"There's definitely a few years left in him for sure."

AAP