Lomu named in Tongan league squad

Jonuh Lomu, the New Zealand rugby union winger who has been linked with several rugby league clubs since his outstanding performances at this year's World Cup, has been named in the Tongan squad for the Rugby League World Cup.

Mike McLennan, the Tongan coach, said that Lomu had been included in the squad partly in expectation of him switching to league, and partly to meet World Cup deadlines.

"It's still just supposition, but indications I'm getting from overseas are that he has probably signed," McLennan said.

Last month Lomu was reported to have been offered record contracts with the English clubs Wigan and Leeds.

Newspapers have reported that Leeds, to be coached and managed next season by the former New Zealand league captains, Hugh McGahan and Dean Bell, offered Lomu NZ$5.5m (pounds 2.5m) to switch codes. Leeds have denied signing Lomu.

Teams participating in the October tournament had to notify organisers of a 25-member squad by 5 August.