Welsh club Cardiff are ready to lead the bidding for the Wallabies centre when his Australian Rugby Union contract expires next year.

"I would love to see Tim Horan in a Cardiff jersey one day," admitted Cardiff's millionaire backer Peter Thomas

"If he would like to come to the UK with his family and settle down for a year or two, then Cardiff would be very keen to talk to him.

"When you are looking at a player of his quality, and you have an opportunity for him to join your club and pass on his skills to the young players, it's something which should not be missed."

Prawns

Horan rejected an opportunity to join Bristol earlier this year is non-committal about his future.

"At the moment, I am just looking forward to throwing a few prawns on the barbecue, having a few beers and switching off from rugby until after Christmas," he said.

"I'm going home to have a good rest, and then I will probably play another year in Australia and probably just play for my Brisbane club side Souths after that."

Lomu chase

Meanwhile Bristol are still reportedly trying to sign Jonah Lomu, with one newspaper in Britain on Monday explaining the lengths the West Country club are prepared to go to.

The Daily Mail says they are so determined to capture the All Black winger that they are even guaranteeing work for the wife of the man who discovered him. She is a music teacher, according the paper.

Lomu's agent said on Sunday that six clubs, including at least one in France, have approached the player, who has also been linked with rugby league and even the US gridiron game in the past.