Ali Williams: Twickenham the place to honour Jonah Lomu, it'll just take a bit of work

All Blacks great Jonah Lomu runs over England's Neil Back on the way to the try line at Twickenham in 2002. Photo/Getty.

Former All Blacks lock Ali Williams believes arranging a benefit game at Twickenham to help raise funds for Jonah Lomu's sons is possible and any obstacles could be overcome due to the high regard he is held in around the world.

Williams said the tremendous level of respect for Lomu throughout the UK and France meant administrative issues and player insurance matters could be resolved to ensure the best former All Blacks and other past international players could be granted permission to play.

"You just don't know the awe and the high regard that this guy is held. He is truly a global superstar," Williams told Radio Sport.

"And to hold a match like that for Jonah at Twickenham, it's going to take a little bit of work but it's not hard and it's the place that everyone would love to honour such a great man.

"It's not hard to put on games like that, it just takes a little bit of effort and know-how to do those things."

This year Williams and fellow former All Black Andy Haden helped arrange a similar fundraising tribute match in memory of former All Blacks loose-forward Jerry Collins, between the Classic All Blacks and French club side Toulon.

Former New Zealand and Hurricanes loose-forward Chris Masoe captained the Classic All Blacks side containing several of Collins' former teammates including Justin Marshall, Carlos Spencer and Carl Hayman.

However, Collins' close friend Piri Weepu and former All Blacks five-eighth Luke McAlister were among those prevented from playing after being denied releases from their French clubs.

Williams acknowledged there were complications in players being available for such games, with clubs concerned about losing their talent for key fixtures and the risk they could sustain injuries.

However, he was confident the high esteem Lomu was held in by the French rugby community, and the fact so many people want to pay tribute to the 63-test veteran and assist his family, would see clubs willing to make concessions in this instance.

"It wouldn't be easy," Williams said. "The French League is quite tight, you've got your insurance issues as well.

"But then again, the French hugely respect Jonah and what he's done so I don't think it would be too hard.

"It's just about speaking to the right guy within the clubs the boys are in and I'm sure it wouldn't be an issue to put a strong ex-All Blacks team together."

Former Pumas captain Felipe Contepomi echoed Williams' enthusiasm for the idea of a Lomu benefit match and said world rugby needs to recognise the role he played in raising the profile of the game.

"I hope that game is played and I hope that every single rugby player is keen to go and participate in such a good cause, to help Jonah's family," Contepomi told Radio Sport.

"There are players or people that have played the game and others change it. Jonah Lomu is one of those persons that changed this game. He's really the big guy that made it popular.

"So whatever could be done for his family, it's a great initiative, and what Jonah Lomu did for the game, I don't know if there will be some other person that can make that in terms of recognition.

"Jonah Lomu is a guy that is world recognised by every single person in the world."