Lomu signs for Welsh side

Jonah Lomu

LONDON - Former All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu has signed for the Cardiff Blues.

Lomu is expected to arrive in Wales in the middle of November with a view to making his debut for the Blues in the first week of December, the club said on their website today.

Cardiff are to hold a news conference at 2pm local time on Saturday (2am Sunday NZT).

Lomu, 30, underwent surgery on a shoulder injury after being hurt in former England captain Martin Johnson's testimonial match in London on June 4.

It was his first competitive match in almost two years after having a kidney transplant in July 2004.

One of the most devastating players in world rugby, Lomu's career was halted after he was diagnosed with the debilitating nephritic syndrome in 1996, which put him on dialysis and reduced him to a shuffling walk.

His international career started in 1994 when he became the youngest player to represent New Zealand.

However, Lomu rose to real prominence in the World Cup in South Africa a year later when he single-handedly destroyed England in the semi-finals.

- REUTERS