Jonah Lomu's comeback to top rugby after a 2004 kidney transplant may stall because he is unlikely to win a Super 14 contract for next season, New Zealand newspapers reported yesterday.
A surplus of talented wingers means that Lomu, 31, is not immediately seen as a prospect for the 2007 season by any of New Zealand's five Super 14 franchises, the New Zealand Herald said.
Coaches were recently required to submit to the New Zealand Rugby Union their "contenders lists" of players being monitored for Super 14 selection and Lomu did not appear on any list, the newspaper said, without naming its source.
New Zealand Super 14 coaches often include as many as 60 players on contenders lists, of whom 24 can be "protected" for eventual selection. An additional four players are taken from a draft pool, bringing each franchise up to its strength of 28 players.
Lomu, who was once rugby's highest-paid and most recognizable player, has attempted in the last two seasons to revive his career after receiving a trans-planted kidney in June, 2004.
Lomu's health declined steadily before his operation and he suffered eventual renal failure as a result of the nephritis, undergoing almost daily dialysis treatment until a donor kidney became available.
The giant winger, who once terrorized defenders with his powerful, barnstorming runs, remained determined to return to top rugby, against some medical advice, with the hope of playing for New Zealand at the 2007 World Cup.
He returned to professional rugby last year when he signed with the Welsh club Cardiff, then won selection for North Harbour in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship. But Lomu has started only one match this season, making otherwise brief appearances from the bench.
He has yet to score a try and appears to have done too little with his fleeting match time to win the interest of Super 14 coaches.
Lomu is available first to his home franchise, the Auckland Blues, but the Blues have so much depth in wingers that his selection would be unexpected. He could then become part of the draft pool, to be picked up by another franchise, but most teams already have established relationships with other wingers.
Lomu is in the process of renegotiating his contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union and is reportedly seeking payment of NZ$500,000 (US$330,000) per year, the Dominion Post newspaper said.
Union chief executive Chris Moller has refused to discuss contract details.
"Obviously Jonah still has value commercially," Moller said. "As to whether he still has value as a player, that is a question for the Blues coaches to answer."
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