The former All Blacks captain and current Counties Manukau player/coach Tana Umaga has confirmed that if approached by a New Zealand franchise, he would return to Super Rugby at the grand old age of 38.
Umaga would provide a large boost to whoever he signed on for.
He offers a big impact both on and off the pitch and could act as an excellent mentor for the plethora of young midfield talent in New Zealand rugby.
The Chiefs and Highlanders franchises are the most likely destinations for him as the three other sides have log-jams in their centre stocks.
With young centres like Willison at the Chiefs and Treeby at the Highlanders, he could play an important part in their development, while also offering direction and structure to two sides lacking badly in those departments last time round.
Do you think he will be a good addition to Super Rugby at this stage?
What side would benefit most from his presence? Could an Australian state maybe bring him in? Would they benefit, if not from Umaga in particular, from older heads guiding the young talented backs in the Super Rugby sides?
Damian George
Roar Rookie
What did he say? And to whom?
p.Tah
Guest
I've been watching him in the ITM cup and her certainly holds his own. He may lack pace and endurance but his reading of the game is incredible. His defence is still great and he commands the back line very well. I doubt it he would leave NZ, but he'd be a good buy to coach (whilst playing the odd game to cover for injuries) for a young yet talented back line like those at the Reds or the Force.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
I have watched him play a couple of times this season and he has contributed well, maybe not as good as the rose coloured glasses comentators have been suggesting but he does very well for a 37 year old guy. Therein lies the nub of it. He is 37 and will be 38 when the Super season gets underway and while I think he was the best centre of his time, his time has past. It's not sad or anything like that, it's just a fact that like any of us father time catches everyone. I think he would be invaluable as a coach and I would welcome him in any Australian fanchise as a backs coach or tactical coach. He reads the game soo well, that was his forte. He has been an ornament to the game and will continue to be. I look forward to seeing him in a coaching role with a Super rugby side in the future and I maybe can see him going on to be a future All Black coach one day.