TMCnet News
Rugby League: Lomu gets back up to speed for World Cup bid(The Birmingham Post Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Jonah Lomu hopes his training sessions with sprint legend Linford Christie have increased his chances of landing a Super 14 contract - with an astonishing All Black comeback the ultimate prize. Lomu has been training alongside Olympic 100 metre gold medalist Christie and sprint star Darren Campbell in an attempt to recover the pace which helped make him become the biggest name in world rugby. The 30-year-old, who will return to New Zealand in the summer upon completion of his short-term contract with Cardiff, has not given up on representing New Zealand at next year's World Cup. He said: "Those boys have been great. It has helped me no end and I am sure that as the weeks go on, I will get quicker and quicker. "Once I get back to New Zealand, I think much of that lost speed will be back. If that's the case and I'm sure it will be, I will have a good crack at winning a contract to play Super 14 rugby. "If I achieve that, there is no reason why I can't get back in the national side and show people that I am good enough to be considered for a place in the World Cup. That is my ultimate goal and I am determined to get there." Lomu, who has won 63 Test caps, had his career brought to halt by a rare kidney disorder which required a transplant in 2004. A year later, he resumed playing in Martin Johnson's testimonial match, only to suffer a shoulder injury. After signing for North Harbour in New Zealand, he agreed to join Cardiff for the off-season. He said: "Once I am back to full fitness - I feel as good now as I have done for several years - there is no reason why I can't rediscover the old Jonah Lomu." Lomu has not played for Cardiff since early February but says: "There has been a great deal said about my fitness and my future, but I am not bothered about what other people think. I have kept myself to myself since Christmas and have concentrated on getting back some of the strength and speed that I lost." The Barbarians will conclude their summer tour with a ground-breaking match against Georgia in Tbilisi's National Stadium on June 4. Leicester head coach Pat Howard will take charge of the Barbarians for their first match against Georgia, who sit second behind Romania in the European Nations Cup. The Barbarians face England at Twickenham on May 28 and Scotland at Murray-field a week later before heading to Georgia, where they will also conduct several coaching clinics. Australian 1999 World Cup-winning coach Bob Dwyer leads the Barbarians into the England match, for which France full-back Thomas Castaignede, New Zealand scrum-half Justin Marshall and Australian flanker Owen Finegan are pencilled in. Howard replaces Dwyer as coach for the matches against Scotland and Georgia. Northampton prop Colin Noon has joined French champions and Heineken Cup semi-finalists Biarritz. Noon has played only seven matches for Saints this season thanks to a six-month suspension for stamping and a calf injury. Italian club Viadana face two misconduct charges at an independent disciplinary hearing tomorrow after forfeiting their European Challenge Cup pool match against Northampton. The original fixture was postponed on January 20 due to fog and a frozen pitch. When it was called off again the following day, Viadana opted against travelling to an alternative venue. Northampton were awarded the points by European Rugby Cup directors and Viadana face two complaints of failing to take suitable action to prepare their pitch and failing to fulfil a fixture. Scotland and Border Reivers scrum-half Chris Cusiter is out for up to four months with a chest injury. |