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Mauger heading home for All Black shot
Rugby Union, 11:26, January 22, 2010 ,
Aaron Mauger admitted it was a desire to pull on an All Black shirt once again that influenced his decision to leave Leicester.
The 29-year-old joined the Tigers following the 2007 World Cup and has enjoyed a successful period with the Welford Road outfit, winning the Premiership title in 2009.
But this season will be his last in the East Midlands, as the Christchurch-born centre has decided to give it one last go with the New Zealand national side and head home to play for Canterbury.
And Mauger, who has 46 All Black caps to date, admitted that he has got his sights set on the 2011 World Cup and will head home at the end of the current English season to try and regain his place in the Kiwi side.
"My desire is to play again for the All Blacks and Canterbury and give it my best crack," he told the Leicester Mercury. "I am leaving Leicester, which is pretty sad, but I want to go back to New Zealand and look at the opportunities of playing over there again with an eye on the World Cup.
"I have talked to the All Blacks coaches. I caught up with them during their autumn tour and have had some discussions through my agent with the New Zealand Rugby Union about a possible contract.
"We are sorting out that now. It just depends on me being in the right space to sign something."
The tough-tackling back, who has scored 13 international tries to date, is aware that he is far from guaranteed a place back in the All Black squad but is confident that he can play to the level required to force himself back in the selectors' minds.
"I know there are no guarantees but the correspondence I have had with the NZRU has been pretty positive," he added.
"They want me to give it my best shot and, if I am playing well enough, I will be in with a chance of making the All Blacks squad."