KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Rugby Union has gone cold on sabbaticals but is considering introducing breaks to lengthen the careers of top All Blacks.
All Blacks first five-eighth Dan Carter this week begins his personalised six-month contract with Perpignan which allows him to return directly to New Zealand rugby.
It is a sabbatical that could go down as history, with NZRU chief executive Steve Tew today stating that his organisation would be loathe to allow such a deal again.
"We think it will be highly unlikely that we will have a repeat ... of what Dan is doing currently."
Instead Tew said other measures such as allowing key players to miss some or all of a campaign like the Super 14 would be considered when they sat down for contract talks.
The NZRU may offer it to the likes of fullback Mils Muliaina or No 8 Rodney So'oialo, with both All Blacks veterans coming off contract at the end of next year.
Muliaina recently voiced an interest in playing in Europe while So'oialo has endured arguably a bigger workload than any New Zealand player this decade.
"One thing we will look at for senior players, on a case by case basis, is the opportunity of having a break from playing," Tew said.
"If you look at someone like Rodney for example. I think he's played in every campaign since he was 19, back in 2000.
"If he's going to be any use to us in 2011 ... he might benefit from having a campaign off.
"We want to retain that freedom.
"It's not for every contract or every player. It will be very carefully thought through before it's confirmed."
Such is the intense nature of modern rugby, the only genuine break players get is from injury.
Tew pointed to the example of lock Ali Williams who played a record 15 tests for the All Blacks this year.
Yet that was the only rugby he played after the Super 14 because of niggling injuries.
Meanwhile, Tew said the NZRU had not spoken to former All Blacks prop Carl Hayman, who reportedly wants to cut short his contract with English club Newcastle and return home.
Hayman or his manager have spoken to officials at the Highlanders and Hurricanes Super 14 franchises but Tew was unaware of the world class tighthead's contract details so was careful not to pre-empt his movements.
"But if he has the desire to come home and the ability to come home then clearly we'll be ready to move quickly in terms of making an offer he can consider."
- NZPA