International Roundup

Lomu will risk all to make World Cup comeback

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- Jonah Lomu says he's prepared to risk everything, including his future health, to make a comeback at the rugby union World Cup from a kidney condition that has almost crippled him.

The giant All Blacks winger, undergoing dialysis treatment three times a week in an Auckland hospital while he awaits a kidney transplant, said in an interview Wednesday with TVNZ that he was determined to disprove predictions that he'll never play rugby again.

"I'd put everything on the line to play in the World Cup," Lomu said. "... I want to give it a go.

"I said, and I've always been true to myself, that I've started a dream and my dream is to play in a World Cup and win a World Cup. That would complete my life story."

Lomu, 28, is reportedly the highest paid and highest profile rugby player in the world. But he's been cautioned by medical advisers not to count on extending an international career that has spanned 63 tests and eight years.

He was player of the tournament in the 1995 World Cup -- when New Zealand lost a tryless final to South Africa after a four-try haul from Lomu had inspired a semifinal win over England -- and increased his try haul to a record 15 in the All Blacks run to the World Cup semis in '99.

Lomu suffered an "end-stage" renal collapse late last week after battling for most of his adult life against a rare kidney disorder known as nephrotic syndrome.

The dialysis treatment can control his illness, cleansing his blood of impurities, but only a transplant can offer the hope of a return to a normal life.

Lomu has been told he can't play while he's having the dialysis treatment, and recipients of kidney transplants are also discouraged from playing contact sport because the organ is in a vulnerable position at the front of the abdomen and can be easily damaged.

He said he was drawing strength from prayer and the support of fans to aid a fast recovery.

"On the outside I look OK but on the inside your body is telling you something different," said Lomu, who rolled up his right sleeve during the 30 minute interview to reveal severe bruising on his forearm from the treatment.

The consequences of the illness didn't appear to daunt him.

"Do I get scared? No. Because I've lived with it this long and I've prepared my life around it for so long I'm used to it," said Lomu, who was diagnosed in 1996.

"The worst aspect is that I have something that controls my life. I can't really do so much about it. I can mold it but it's still there.

"As I see it I've beaten it before and it's come back so this is just another round, the second round, and I can beat it again."

Lomu became defiant when asked if he was being realistic about returning to international sport.

"No-one's done it, no-one's tried it because no-one's had the guts to try," he said. "There may be danger but there's danger in everything. You can walk around the corner and get hit by a bus.

"People think I'm silly risking my health but I'd risk everything to keep the dream that I started."

Speculation that he may easily find a rugby fan willing to make a "directed donation" of a kidney to shorten his wait for transplant surgery has concerned Lomu. New Zealanders typically wait up to three years for a donor organ to become available.

Lomu said it was against medical ethics to entice a person to offer an organ for donation and he was concerned publicity about his condition might encourage a misdirected offer.

"The thing that disturbs me about this is that I do need a transplant but I'm not going to do anything about that," he said. "I'm like anyone else. I need to get on the transplant list ... I'm not asking for any favors."

Medical experts have said Lomu would be most likely to find a compatible organ from within his own family. Lomu, who has been estranged from his parents at times in the past, said he had not addressed the issue with his brother or other family members.

"If someone wants to offer a kidney, that has to be done of their own free will," he said.

"It's something for me to talk to my family about. It's not only me that's involved and if someone in my family wants to do something, that's up to them."

England sends best wishes to ailing Lomu

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- The touring England rugby squad on Wednesday wished ailing All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu -- who famously tore the English defense to shreds in a 1995 World Cup semifinal -- a fast recovery from a crippling kidney condition.

Lomu, who is undergoing life-saving dialysis treatment after suffering renal failure, scored four tries against the English in the World Cup semis in '95, leaving an indelible impression on the rugby world when he ran through or over a host of sprawling defenders.

England coach Clive Woodward was caught in two minds when he was asked on his team's arrival in New Zealand Wednesday whether he was pleased that his team's "nemesis" was out of commission.

Woodward toyed with the word nemesis before saying he wished Lomu, 28, a quick return to full health.

"He's out and that's not good news," Woodward said. "We can only send our best to him and hope to see him at the World Cup."

Lomu, who suffers from the rare kidney disorder nephritis, will undergo dialysis treatment three-times weekly until a compatible organ can be found for transplant. He has said he hopes to make a full recovery and play at the World Cup in Australia later this year.

Woodward said the World Cup would not be on his mind when his team played two matches in New Zealand over the next two weeks. The only objective of his touring side would be to win its matches against New Zealand Maori on Sunday and the All Blacks on June 14.

Woodward said he had chosen the strongest England team available with the specific aim of winning matches against New Zealand and Australia on this southern tour.

He dismissed his team's No.1 world ranking and said Australia, with all of its players available, was still the best team in world rugby.

"Winning test games is our only aim," he said. "The World Cup will take care of itself."

Meanwhile, the Welsh rugby team which will play New Zealand in Hamilton on June 21 arrives in Auckland Thursday.

Players will arrive on two flights after missing their scheduled flight because of a delay caused by a protracted pay negotiations in Cardiff.

Turinui passes fitness test ahead of Ireland test

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Rookie center Morgan Turinui passed a fitness test Wednesday and was cleared to win his first Australian test cap in Saturday's rugby union international against Ireland at Perth.

The Waratahs center had a minor abdominal strain when Wallabies coach Eddie Jones announced his team but any doubt about his fitness was erased after a training session early Wednesday morning at Australia's camp in Coffs Harbour.

"Morgan trained extremely well today so we believe there's no need for Mat Rogers to travel to Perth," Jones said in a statement. Rogers, a dual rugby league and rugby union international, hadn't played since breaking a bone in his foot in March but was named as a shadow for the squad in case Turinui failed his fitness test.

The Wallabies, with eight top backline contenders out due to injuries, were to travel to Perth later Wednesday to finetune for their first test of the season.

The Irish had an upset 18-9 win over Australia in the last head-to-head in muddy conditions in Dublin last November -- their first win over Australia since 1979 -- and have won 10 of their 11 internationals.

The Australians were 6-4 in tests in 2002, culminating in a last-minute loss to England at Twickenham.

Due to injuries, Australia and Ireland are using the test to experiment with lineups ahead of the World Cup, where both countries are grouped together and will meet in Melbourne on Nov. 1.

Australian Matt Williams named next Scotland coach

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) -- Australian Matt Williams was Wednesday named as the successor to Scotland rugby union coach Ian McGeechan.

Williams is a former coach of Irish club Leinster, Ireland A and New South Wales in Australia. His contract begins after November's World Cup -- when McGeechan retires -- and through the 2007 event.

"In Matt Williams we have found an outstanding young coach who I am sure will prove an exceptional custodian of all the values that are dear to Scottish rugby while also bringing innovation and plenty of ideas to the national team," Scottish Rugby Union director of rugby Jim Telfer said.

Williams, 43, has been in charge of Leinster for the past three years said he was honored to be chosen.

"I was very happy at Leinster and the Irish Rugby Football Union has treated me brilliantly but the lure of Scotland head coach post was, for me, irresistible," Williams said.

"To follow in the footsteps of Jim and Ian is a very humbling experience and I'm very aware of the responsibilities that have been given to me.

"My aim will be to build on the foundations that have been put in place by Jim and Ian. Great strides have been made in the last four years in Scottish rugby and my role will be to take that structure forward in all areas from the players, coaches and support staff with the national team down through the age-grade sides."

McGeechan was pleased with his replacement.

"Matt Williams is a forward-thinking coach who wants to be party to the further development of Scottish rugby," he said.

The Scottish team is in Durban, South Africa, preparing for the first of two tests against the Springboks on Saturday.

France recalls flyhalf Delaigue for tour

PARIS (Reuters) -- France recalled Toulouse flyhalf Yann Delaigue to its rugby union squad Wednesday for its tour to Argentina and New Zealand later this month.

The 30-year-old Delaigue, who masterminded Toulouse's European Cup victory over Perpignan last month, won the last of his 10 caps in 1997.

"Yann is the in-form flyhalf at the end of the season. He will have three matches to prove that he is the best French flyhalf," coach Bernard Laporte said Wednesday.

Delaigue kicked five penalties and set up and converted center Yannick Jauzion's try in the final at Lansdowne Road.

His recall comes at the expense of Gerald Merceron and Francois Gelez who were dropped from the squad for the tour that includes two tests against Argentina on June 14 and 20 and a one-off match against the All Blacks on June 28.

Laporte had problems throughout the Six Nations choosing a goal-kicking flyhalf.

Merceron, who assumed the goal-kicking duties during the 2002 Six Nations, went through a slump in form this year and was replaced by Gelez.

Gelez played against Ireland, but also had a shocking performance and Laporte dropped him for the last two games against Italy and Wales, bringing in Frederic Michalak.

Captain and scrumhalf Fabien Galthie, who missed most of the Six Nations because of an injury, and prop Pieter De Villiers, suspended after testing positive for cocaine and ecstasy, were also recalled to the team.

Several key players, including locks Fabien Pelous and Olivier Brouzet, prop Jean-Jacque Crenca, hooker Raphael Ibanez, flankers Olivier Magne and Serge Betsen and center Xavier Garbajosa were rested.

Scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili, who replaced Galthie during the Six Nations, withdrew because of an ankle injury.

Squad:

Forwards: Jean-Baptiste Rue (Agen), Sylvain Marconnet (Stade Francais), Pieter De Villiers (Stade Francais), Olivier Milloud (Bourgoin), Yannick Bru (Toulouse), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), David Auradou (Stade Francais), Pascal Pape (Bourgoin), Jerome Thion (Perpignan), Imanol Harinordoquy (Pau), Sebastien Chabal (Bourgoin), Patrick Tabacco (Stade Francais), Christian Labit (Toulouse), Jean Bouilhou (Toulouse), Elvis Vermeulen (Montferrand).

Backs: Fabien Galthie (Stade Francais, captain), Yann Delaigue (Toulouse), Frederic Michalak (Toulouse), Damien Traille (Pau), Thomas Castaignede (Saracens), Yannick Jauzion (Toulouse), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Aurelien Rougerie (Montferrand), Christophe Dominici (Stade Francais), Pepito Elhorga (Agen), Clement Poitrenaud (Toulouse).

 

Related information

Stories

Rugby: Wales misses Australia flight after pay dispute

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video

Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.