Sports Shorts

* LONDON – Former New Zealand winger Jonah Lomu is likely to make his debut for Cardiff Blues against Italian champions Calvisano next month in the next stage of his comeback after a kidney transplant.

Lomu, 30, scorer of a record 15 World Cup tries, has set his sights on a return to the All Blacks side for the 2007 tournament in France. “He’s in very good shape physically and I’d like to think he will be in a position to be considered for the 22 for the Heineken Cup games against Calvisano next month,” said Blues coach Dai Young.Lomu, who required a kidney transplant after a long-standing illness, said the Cardiff Blues represented his last chance to get back into the New Zealand side.World Cup playoff 2nd legs (1st leg result in brackets) To be played Wednesday, Nov 16 At Prague Czech Republic v Norway (1-0) At Bratislava Slovakia v Spain (1-5) At Istanbul Turkey v Switzerland (0-2) At Sydney Australia v Uruguay (0-1) At Manama Bahrain v Trinidad and Tobago (1-1)”He’s in very good shape physically and I’d like to think he will be in a position to be considered for the 22 for the Heineken Cup games against Calvisano next month,” said Blues coach Dai Young.Lomu, who required a kidney transplant after a long-standing illness, said the Cardiff Blues represented his last chance to get back into the New Zealand side. World Cup playoff 2nd legs (1st leg result in brackets) To be played Wednesday, Nov 16 At Prague Czech Republic v Norway (1-0) At Bratislava Slovakia v Spain (1-5) At Istanbul Turkey v Switzerland (0-2) At Sydney Australia v Uruguay (0-1) At Manama Bahrain v Trinidad and Tobago (1-1)