Bristol are confident All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu will join them and believe a contract could be completed soon.

Lomu's contract with the New Zealand Rugby Football Union expired after the All Blacks' World Cup play-off against South Africa.

The 24-year-old has been the subject of weekend reports that he had signed a £1.1 million twoyear deal with Bristol.

Bristol chief executive Nick de Scossa confirmed on BBC Radio Bristol this morning that the club had been in discussions with the player over the weekend.

"We had a long meeting with the player on Saturday to put forward our proposals and we are awaiting a decision from his management," said de Scossa.

"I presume that they've had talks with a number of clubs as well as Bristol because Lomu is a very marketable commodity at this moment.

"What his management have said to us is that they are looking at more than just money. It is about the lifestyle that the player can expect, where he might live and what sort of club he would be joining and about the owner's knowledge of the game."

The club is unwilling to discuss what terms have been offered to Lomu.

Saracens coach Alan Zondagh believes Lomu will not be joining the Allied Dunbar Premiership.

London Irish are also chasing the player but Zondagh thinks he will sign a new, improved contract with the New Zealand RFU, allowing him to cash in on lucrative personal marketing rights.

Meanwhile, Huddersfield-Sheffield have failed in their bid to sign All Blacks winger Tana Umaga but Super League rivals Wakefield insist they are still in the hunt for Jonah Lomu.