Rugby: ABs only job he really wants

Richard Kahui impressed against Wales last June and is keen to find that kind of form again. Photo / Getty Images

Richard Kahui seems to have plenty of employment options after rugby.

In the past six months, for instance, he has been a judge at a bridal competition, escorted models down the runway at a Melbourne Cup function, been an environmental protester at New Chum beach and even starred as an actor in Air New Zealand's in-flight safety briefing, although his refusal to kiss a male flight attendant was later deleted after complaints from some in the gay community.

"I don't think my future is in judging wedding dresses," he says. "I don't know if my opinion was regarded too highly among the ladies.

"I have managed to fill up my time, whether it's been escorting ladies down the runway or judging wedding dresses or refusing to kiss air hosts, it's been a pretty good way to keep me occupied over the last few months. There might be something there."

But it's not what Kahui has in mind, yet. The 25-year-old is still very much a professional rugby player and craves a return to the All Blacks. It's what got him out of bed every morning for the last five months, especially with a World Cup looming.

Kahui, however, has found himself considering life after rugby since his third serious shoulder injury in five years. He fractured his right shoulder socket in the first test against the Springboks and re-injured it playing for Waikato.

He underwent surgery, which robbed him of a chance to go on the All Blacks' end-of-year tour, and he now has 16 weeks to prove he deserves a spot for the Big Show.

It is an increasingly congested picture, especially in the midfield, where the emergence of Sonny Bill Williams and Robbie Fruean, on top of Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Isaia Toeava, Luke McAlister, Benson Stanley and Rene Ranger, has left coach Graham Henry with a very good problem.

Kahui is in that picture. He is best suited to centre but his utility value, where he can genuinely play 11, 12, 13 and 14, makes him an attractive proposition and his form in June's home tests impressed.

But he hasn't played in nearly five months and knows he needs to find his form quickly when the Super 15 kicks off. He struggled in last year's Super 14 when coming back from another shoulder injury.

"Last year, I didn't bounce back as well as I would have hoped," Kahui says. "I made a couple of errors - uncharacteristic errors - and lost a bit of confidence. When you have no confidence, it breeds doubt and when you're not backing yourself, it's a pretty lonely time out on that field.

"When I was picked up by the ABs, I took some time out to talk with [All Blacks mental skills coach] Gilbert Enoka and we sat down to try to work out some strategies around that. I felt really good. You always feel really good when you put on the black jersey, but I felt really good in my own skin and I think it showed out on the field.

"I realise I will come back and probably won't set the world alight having not played in six months ... but I have to find my feet.

"I don't have 16 weeks to do that. I have to find that in round one or two or whenever I start playing again. There are some exciting challenges."

His return will be governed by his medical team but Kahui expects to resume contact training in three weeks with his first game for the Chiefs in the early rounds of the Super 15.

He's been told the shoulder will recover fully - it's the same one he injured in 2006 - and his mind will also need rehabilitating.

"I have had a few sleepless nights thinking about it," he says. "You get a bit nervous when you've had a couple.

"It's been challenging - it's been a lot of things - because when it happened, I had just made it back into the All Blacks and had started finding my feet after a pretty rough Super 14 season. I was feeling pretty good at the time so to have it come along then was a pain in the bum. But I had been through it before and have plenty of experience.

"I have had a chance to think about different strategies this time around. I still haven't quite nailed down what I think is going to work but we will find out when I step back on the field if I have worked it out or not."

The Chiefs mirror the depth in the All Blacks midfield. Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga has signed on for a 13th Super campaign and joins Dwayne Sweeney, Savenaca Tokula, Jackson Willison and Stephen Donald. On the wing are Sitiveni Sivivatu, Lelia Masaga, Tim Nanai-Williams and Tokula.

But a fully fit Kahui exudes class. He's athletic, skilful and a strong defender and has the ability to change a game. Kahui's travails weren't the only issue for a disappointing Chiefs last season, who finished a lowly 11th after starting one of the favourites, but it didn't help.

Kahui will be 26 when the World Cup roadshow leaves our shores and many might think he would be among the departures too. He hasn't made any decisions but appears to be leaning towards staying.

"My heart is firmly with the All Blacks and New Zealand at the moment," he says.

It is perhaps borne out by the fact he's played only 11 tests in three years.

Adding to that is the only employment option that appeals to him at the moment.