Rugby: Lomu ready to sign All-Blacks deal

Jonah Lomu is set to sign a new contract with the All-Blacks in the next 24 hours and confirm his availability for New Zealand’s autumn tour of Europe and Argentina.

All-Blacks Justin Marshall and Christian Cullen have expressed concerns about the tour - which takes in matches against Ireland and Scotland - because of the military action in Afghanistan.

Taine Randell has also spoken of the need for time to consider the situation.

Lomu, however, will put pen to paper on a new deal with the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and plans to travel with the All-Blacks.

The All-Blacks squad is to be announced November 4 and the tour party is to depart just three days later.

Australia’s rugby league side have come under fire for cancelling their five-week British tour, although a shortened version is likely to be accepted within the next couple of days.

And New Zealand RFU president Lane Penn, chairman Murray McCaw and chief executive David Rutherford are leading the calls for their tour to go ahead and will travel with the team.

"We will not ask players to go anywhere we will not go," said Rutherford.

"We can stop the tour right up to the point of final departure on the last sector of any flight."

Lomu’s Welsh agent, Phil Kingsley-Jones, said that players should not be afraid to tour.

"We believe that we fought two world wars to have the freedom to do what we want to do," he said.

"New Zealanders are wimps for even contemplating not going. They’re letting themselves down. We just have to get on with it."