Lomu 'demands' dismissed as absolute rubbish

Jonah Lomu has rubbished claims he demanded $500,000 to re-sign with the New Zealand Rugby Union.

The giant winger, who has started just once this season for North Harbour, said reports last weekend claiming he had asked for half a million dollars to keep him in New Zealand were completely false.

"It's absolute rubbish," Lomu said. His last formal discussions with the NZRU were in 2003 when he was offered a $50,000 annual contract - compared to the estimated $400,000 he had been on previously.

Lomu said neither he nor his wife Fiona had met the NZRU to discuss a contract for next season. "I'm not sure where this has come from. But we have certainly not asked for anything from the NZRU."