Onandi Lowe originally signed for Diamonds on loan in 2001. Striker Lowe was drafted in to add firepower to the newly promoted Diamonds side. With Justin Jackson deemed to not be of the standard required in Division 3, Lowe was needed to fill the void of a striker with a prolific goal record. Needless to say, Lowe did not disappoint and the signing was made permanent in 2002 for an undisclosed fee.

Lowe already had experience on the highest level having taken part in the 1998 World Cup, representing Jamaica. Lowe has been capped by his country over 60 times.

In his first season, Lowe finished top scorer for Diamonds, scoring 20 goals in all competition. Amongst his memorable goals was a hatrick scored at Mansfield that helped to keep the Diamonds push to the league play-offs on track. This helped take Diamonds within one game of Division 2, only to fall short in the play-off final. After his signature was made permanent, Lowe continued to score goals at a prolific rate. He and Jamaican team-mate Paul Hall scored 16 goals apiece as Rushden were promoted to Division 2 in 2003, erasing the disappointment of the Millennium Stadium one year earlier.

At the start of the Diamonds single season in Division 2, Lowe scored one of his most memorable Diamonds goals with  a screaming free-kick in the League Cup against West Ham, who had David James in goal. He repeated this feat on several occasions that season, and was the Diamonds top scorer when he left the club, after adding another 16 goals to his already impressive total. Lowe had to leave the Diamonds in spring 2004 as part of cost-cutting measures at the club, joining Coventry City. His Diamonds career included 52 goals in just 97 appearances.