Jonah Lomu Signs With Cardiff

[Bad Company]

01/10/2005
Duncan Johnstone
All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu will take his game to Cardiff on a short-term deal with the Welsh club as his comeback to rugby continues.

The Cardiff Blues confirmed they have signed rugby's biggest name and will make an official announcement ahead of their Powergen Cup match with Saracens on Sunday (NZ time).

He has been registered with Cardiff's Heineken Cup squad for their European campaign and reports suggest he is on a three-month contract.

The 30-year-old, on a new phase of a remarkable comeback from kidney problems that included a transplant and kept him sidelined for two years, will head north once the Air New Zealand NPC finishes and stay till February.

Lomu has been out of action this winter with a shoulder injury suffered in his initial comeback match in London in June.

He has been playing a mentor role with North Harbour, who he is contracted to, and has helped the side to within sight of the NPC first division play-offs.

Lomu has a massive profile in Britain and this is a major coup for Cardiff with Lomu said to have been in discussions with English clubs as well.

Cardiff have another former All Black in their squad with Auckland No 8 Xavier Rush a fresh arrival.

But the spotlight and all the pressure will now be on Lomu to perform after an indifferent effort against the Martin Johnson XV at Twickenham before disaster struck with the first half shoulder injury back in June.

He has been in rehabilitation since then and is now clearly confident he is ready to try again.

Cardiff are apparently hopeful of Lomu being available for action in the first week of December.

Difficult Position

Lomu has found himself in a difficult position in his quest to return to the All Blacks and play in the 2007 World Cup.

His latest injury has frustrated his chances of securing a Super 14 deal with a New Zealand franchise because he hasn't been able to prove himself in the NPC.

That left him with nothing on his plate until next year's NPC when Harbour will contest the new 14-team Premier Division.

A quick-fire deal up north seemed an ideal solution and, presumably, a profitable one.

The interest in Lomu's return will be massive in the UK and will increase New Zealand interest in the northern scene which has already had a singificant Kiwi boost this year with Justin Marshall and Carlos Spencer joining English clubs.

Lomu played 73 matches including 63 tests for New Zealand from 1994 to 2002, scoring 36 test tries.

He was the star of the 1995 and 1999 World Cups even though he was sidelined between those tournaments with the first signs of his kidney problems.

His hopes of a third successive World Cup were dashed when he made a brave attempt to return with Wellington for the 2003 NPC and a preseason friendly with Taranaki was his last appearance in New Zealand.

A successful kidney transplant allowed him to continue his dream and he signed this year with North Harbour on a two year deal before the shoulder setback.

www.xtramsn.co.nz

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this should provide Jonah with a good platform to get his game on track, provided he stays injury free. Good Luck to him I say!