Jonah Lomu's shock international demise is certain to alert a number of Premiership clubs who have long coveted the world's most high-profile player.

The wing has been dropped by New Zealand for Saturday's opening Tri-Nations encounter against the defending champions Australia in Christchurch. The New Zealand coach John Mitchell has also excluded Lomu's Wellington team-mate Tana Umaga from a 22-man squad.

But whereas Umaga damaged his right knee against Fiji last month Lomu, whose place on the left wing is taken by Caleb Ralph, is fit but failed to impress against the Fijians. Lomu had a poor Super-12 and, at 27, the Test future looks bleak for the man once dubbed "the scariest player on the planet" by the Wallabies' hooker Jeremy Paul.

Peter Deakin, chief executive of Saracens, said: "Lomu's management may have to do a mighty selling job on him now but there is certainly a possibility of him moving to England or to France, where a lot of money is sploshing about."

Mitchell has chosen a starting line-up containing 13 players, including the entire pack, who helped Canterbury to the Super-12 title.

Wasps yesterday completed the signing of Cardiff's former Wales captain Rob Howley. The 31-year-old scrum-half has signed a three-year contract.