WORLD famous All Black's winger Jonah Lomu will be mingling with young Worcester rugby players at a fund-raising event in aid of Acorns' new hospice in the city.

The rugby star will also meet Acorns' families and supporters at the reception at Worcester's Sixways Rugby Club on Tuesday, December 4, at 6.15pm.

Some of the club's young players will be invited to meet the sporting hero and they will be given the chance to have Jonah's signature for £2 a time.

After the reception the winger will be speaking at a sportsman's dinner at the club where he will be introducing his new video.

"I am heavily involved with the Acorns project and saw the opportunity to invite some of our 450 mini junior players to help Acorns and to give them the opportunity to meet Jonah," said chairman of WRFC Trading Ltd Cecil Duckworth.

"I hope the Acorns' families and the young Worcester rugby players really enjoy meeting Jonah who, in most rugby supporters' views, is the most famous player in the world. It's great that he is giving his valuable time to help Acorns and at the same time giving the opportunity to young players to meet the great man."

Acorns' third hospice, serving the counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and Gloucestershire, is due to open in 2004. Building and equipping the hospice will cost £5.4m.

More than £2m, including the land, has already been raised, but any help in reaching the target is always welcomed.