Lomu waits for kidney

Jonah Lomu may accept a kidney donated by a fan to avoid a wait of up to three years for transplant surgery.

The New Zealander underwent dialysis for the first time on Saturday after suffering an "end-stage" kidney failure caused by the rapid deterioration of the renal disorder he has suffered since 1996. Lomu will undergo dialysis at Auckland Hospital for between four and six hours a day, three times a week, for at least a month.

The 28-year-old has not played rugby since April and missed most of the Wellington Hurricanes' Super 12 season. He was not selected for the All Blacks squad for the upcoming Tests against England, France and Wales and is unlikely to return for the World Cup starting in October in Australia.

The usual wait for a transplant in New Zealand is between two and three years. However, doctors said yesterday that it could be cut to six months if a donor offered a "directed donation" of a kidney for Lomu's use.