Lomu eyes return in sevens

All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu could use the sevens stage as the backdrop to a remarkable return to rugby following his debilitating kidney illness.

New Zealand sevens coach Gordon Tietjens said yesterday that he spoke to Lomu several weeks ago and Lomu had shown interest in playing sevens as part of an unlikely comeback following his kidney transplant operation last year.

Lomu, who scored 37 tries in 63 tests for the All Blacks, late last year announced his intentions to return to the playing field this year after his kidney condition forced him to stop in 2003.

If Lomu could get through one of the infamous national sevens training camps it would prove he was ready for the rigours of the 15-a-side game, Tietjens said, with a laugh.

Tietjens hopes to discuss Lomu's future further with him at the national sevens tournament starting in Queenstown today.

Lomu, a huge fan of the shortened form of the game, has been invited as a special guest by tournament organisers, while Tietjens is on the hunt for the 16 contracted players he will take through the rest of the world sevens circuit.

New Zealand are in a three-way tie with England and Fiji at the top of the table after two rounds, but there are still six rounds remaining, including the Wellington leg next month.

Tietjens does have the option of selecting one player from the protected 24-man squads at each Super 12 franchise and was generally pleased with the players he had for the opening two rounds of the world series.

Despite a lack of name players taking part in this year's national tournament, Tietjens has a reputation for unearthing exciting talent.

He will name a training squad of up to 30 players after the national tournament for a training camp in Tauranga.

Having coached New Zealand since 1994, Tietjens is in no hurry to step aside from the top job.

He is contracted through until next year and said the opportunity to attend a third Commonwealth Games, in Melbourne in 2006, following on from Kuala Lumur in 1998 and Manchester in 2002 was a huge incentive.

Wellington and Bay of Plenty shape as the likeliest contenders to break North Harbour's stranglehold on the national sevens title.

As many as six teams have a realistic chance of winning the premier title at the tournament.

- NZPA