Zac Guildford: He's still running from his demons

Zac Guildford. Photo / Getty Images.

Zac Guildford would leave the best of defenders in his wake thanks to his jittery speed, a skill that took him all the way into the All Blacks with the promise of a brilliant career ahead.

It hasn't worked out that way, not by a long shot, and the man he still can't run away from is himself. Firstly, there were public problems with alcohol. Then Guildford, with a French club contract already in his pocket, was released early by the Crusaders a year ago having failed to crack the Super Rugby side in 2014. He headed off to Clermont Auvergne.

Now that stint has also ended prematurely, with the club confirming overnight that 26-year-old Guildford - the Hawkes Bay flyer who played 10 tests over a four year period - was returning home because of personal problems and homesickness.

Having already been shunned by the rugby hierarchy in this country, it makes for an uncertain future should he want to resume his career at home. Guildford jumped from a rock to a hard place, and now he's heading back to the rock.

Guildford tweeted that he's been unable to find his best form at Clermont and wants to move on, and be closer to his family.

This is a wise move. Moving to France would have seemed a great idea at the time. But it would also have made dealing with his central problem more difficult, in a foreign land, and one where English isn't the first language.

There are no new reports of actual drink-related issues involving Guildford, who has described himself as an alcoholic. This is the most famous of the addiction diseases, a condition that often involves fear-based personality problems entwined with the more obvious drinking disasters.

Those who work in the recovery industry know certain signs all too well - one of the addict's instincts is to do so-called "geographicals", scarpering off to a new place believing that running away will automatically bring contentment and a happier life. It virtually never works.

Clermont Auvergne coach Franck Azema said wisely and compassionately: "Throughout this season we were at his side...unfortunately the weight of the remoteness and fragility were too important barriers.

"We will keep in contact with Zac and can only wish (he) finds all the stability and support necessary to help him find the right track (and) serenely continue his career and his life."

One of the problems Guildford may face is society's battle to understand alcoholism, and come to grips with the idea that it is a disease. It can be a long road for any addict to find a serene recovery, and while New Zealand rugby tried to show support, they couldn't carry it through when a rapid fix did not arrive.

Addiction, with its genetic base, is known as a family disease, and it is also one of denial and misunderstanding. The issues are not just about substance abuse - putting down the drinks or drugs opens up a whole new and difficult world to deal with.

Even now, with coach Azema's wonderful words to help smooth Guildford's passage home, many will still remember or view Guildford as some sort of selfish troublemaker.

He faces an uncertain future. But he always did, and it's best he deals with that supported by family and friends.