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Staying home Lomu: Cup loss swayed commitment to New Zealand
Posted: Sunday November 14, 1999 10:39 AM
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) -- New Zealand's semifinal loss to France in the World Cup played a large part in Jonah Lomu's decision to reaffirm his commitment to New Zealand rugby for two more years, the star winger said Sunday. "It [the loss] had a lot of influence on my decision because financially it was around the other way," Lomu said at an Auckland airport news conference. "What tipped the scales was what was going to make Jonah Lomu happy -- and that is playing for New Zealand. "It is unfinished business for us now, a lot of the players who played at the World Cup know it is unfinished business, for me personally I want to give back something to New Zealand rugby and I really want to play for the All Blacks again." If France had not bundled New Zealand out of the cup, 43-31 at Twickenham, Lomu said he may have opted for a more lucrative playing deal with either a rugby or league club in Britain. "I don't know if it [his decision] might have been different if we had won the World Cup ... it might have been, it might not have been ... the All Blacks are a big part of my life." Had Lomu signed with a British club -- Bristol and London Irish were among teams seeking his services -- his All Black career would have ended as the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) has a policy dictating All Blacks must play domestic rugby in New Zealand. Lomu, the World Cup's leading trying scorer, said the desire to play in the black jersey eventually swayed his decision not to leave New Zealand. "Why New Zealand? You could say it is the silver fern, once you've had a taste of it you want more," he said. "I've had four years of it, though some of it is on and off, I still want to taste it and that is what tipped the scales. That is what it is about." Lomu has a contract through to the end of 2001 and he has the option of two more years that could see him playing at a third World Cup in 2003. Although his playing future in New Zealand is now assured, there is still doubt over where he will play his Super 12 rugby next year. While no firm decision has been made, Lomu is expected to seek contractual terms similar to that of his fellow Counties-Manukau winger Joeli Vidiri, who played Super 12 rugby for the Auckland Blues and his National Provincial rugby (NPC) for the Steelers. Lomu is expected to make himself available to the Wellington-based Hurricanes for next year's Super 12 but said he still wanted to play for Counties-Manukau in the domestic competition. Playing for the Wellington franchise would enable him to be closer to girlfriend Teina Stace. A decision is expected next month. British Super League club Wakefield Trinity confirmed last week that Lomu had rejected a 1 million pound (US$1.6 million) two-year deal to switch codes. Lomu, 24, has 38 caps for New Zealand and was a key player in the All Blacks squad which swept past Tonga, Italy, England and Scotland before losing the World Cup semifinal in a major upset. The All Blacks also lost the third-place playoff to South Africa and, after starting the tournament as favorites, slumped to fourth place.
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