Rugby: Gear hopes future is black

Hosea Gear. Photo / Getty Images

Hosea Gear has his eyes on being back in the All Blacks but knows he first must earn a different black jersey.

The 30-year-old, having returned to New Zealand rugby following stints in France and Japan, made his Chiefs debut in a narrow 38-36 pre-season defeat to the Waratahs in Sydney on Friday night.

Gear started on the wing, scored a try and was replaced with a corked thigh at halftime, an injury not expected to preclude his involvement in his side's Super Rugby opener against the Blues on Saturday.

But whether he's selected in the run-on XV is another question. Dave Rennie is once more blessed with options in his backs, having learned the importance of versatility and depth during a two-year title reign that ended against the Brumbies in last season's playoffs.

The Chiefs lost first-choice wing Asaeli Tikoirotuma to Harlequins after that defeat but recruited Gear and Tasman's Bryce Heem to help fill the Fijian's boots. James Lowe remains with the squad while additions in midfield mean Tim Nanai-Williams and Tom Marshall may be left to battle for a place among the outside backs.

It makes for a murky picture when it comes to choosing a backline and Gear, having previously played for the Hurricanes and Highlanders, could probably have picked a franchise where he had an easier path into the first XV.

But he chose the Chiefs for a few reasons: to be closer to family in Gisborne, to win a Super Rugby title and to press for higher honours while impressing with one of the competition's premier teams.

Before attaining those lofty targets, though, Gear knows that he first has to achieve a less grandiose on-field goal.

"We've got some great wingers in the side, so there's a challenge for me just getting on the field," he said.

If Gear earns a spot in the Chiefs side, the next challenge he faces is monumental. Gear played the last of his 14 tests in 2012 and the timing of his return from Honda, in a World Cup year, is no coincidence.

After receiving a late call to bolster an injury-hit All Blacks squad in 2011, he failed to make the match-day 22 in the semifinal or final. But Gear denied he had unfinished business, motivated instead by the simple desire to once again pull on the black jersey.

"I think it's just being part of the side, putting the jersey on and just trying to put the best you can into the jersey on the field," he said. "I suppose that's every New Zealand rugby player's dream. It's still one of mine and it was a motivating factor to come back."