Rugby: Havelock North's Dan Snee step nearer World Cup dream

Dan Snee says he'll contemplate hanging up his boots if Spain fail to qualify for next year's World Cup. Photo / File

Former Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby first five-eighth Dan Snee's training sessions have been hot and lonely in recent weeks.

"I'm not contracted to the Magpies any more so I'm training on my own. It's tough ... I'm going for runs at 6.30 in the morning then coming home and catching up with what my mates are up to on Facebook, they're all going out and having a good time," Snee said yesterday.

However these are sacrifices Snee, 33, is prepared to make as he chases his dream of playing for Spain at next year's World Cup in Japan. The Havelock North club player, who has already had five seasons in the Spanish national side, took another giant stride towards ticking that goal off with his selection for games against Russia in Krasnodar on February 10 and Romania in Madrid on February 18.

After his three appearances for the Magpies during the 2017 Mitre 10 Cup season, Snee played for Spain during the November international window. He played second five-eighth in a 37-27 loss to Canada and at 10 during a 60-25 win against Brazil.

"It was a bit of a mixed bag. Against Canada we were leading 17-3 after 20 minutes and then exploded along the way ... we couldn't quite pinpoint where," he recalled.

"I'm the No 2 10 behind a French lad so it looks like I might be more of a 12 during our Super 6 Nations competition."

Snee was referring to upcoming matches against Georgia, Germany and Belgium. Georgia have already qualified for the World Cup and Romania hold second spot in the comp with Spain two points behind in third place.

"We lost by 10 points to Romania in Romania. If we can finish ahead of them we will qualify but if we stay third we will have home and away playoffs against Samoa," Snee explained.

Should Spain lose to Samoa there will be one more qualification path available which will involve games against South American opponents.

"Basically everything is up in the air until the middle of or late March. If Spain qualify then I would need to sit down with the Spanish federation and work out which camps I will be required to attend. They would determine whether or not I could play for Havelock North and if I could chase Magpies selection again.

"But if Spain didn't qualify that could also be the time to sit down with my wife and discuss hanging up my boots."

A nephew of former Magpie Len Snee and a member of the 2003 New Zealand under-19 team which finished second at their world championship, Snee pointed out one advantage of training in 30C temperatures is that it will be easy for him to adjust to 10C or 12C in Spain and 6C in Russia.

The 2008 Otago representative had one starting XV appearance for the Magpies against Taranaki last year and two off the pine against Wellington and Otago.

Havelock North club president Conrad Waitoa agreed Snee's absence would be a major blow to the villagers this season.

"It's bad news for us but a massive gain for him. That's what clubs are for ... to prepare players for the World Cup stage. I have no doubt Dan will make the Spain team and they are well on the way to qualifying."

In Snee's likely absence Waitoa said Ethan Bradey and Adam Blake will battle for the villagers' No 10 jersey. Both are former Hawke's Bay age group representatives who boast plenty of premier club rugby experience.