First five-eighth Nick Evans is likely to skip his domestic rugby duties for Auckland after missing out on All Blacks selection.
Evans was a surprise omission from an All Blacks training camp squad named yesterday, effectively ending his international career as he won't complete a contract with Englishclub Harlequins until mid-2011, when he will be nearly 32.
A disappointed but philosophical Evans suspected he may not win selection well before All Blacks coach Graham Henry left a message on his phone over the weekend.
"Deep down I had a little feeling," Evans told Radio Sport.
"I am very disappointed and sad that this is the end for me in New Zealand but I'm not overly gutted.
"It allows me to look forward to heading up north."
Last year Evans signed to play for the Blues and Auckland this season but the prospect of turning out for his new province in the Air New Zealand Cup appears to have thinned.
"I've got a clause in my contract that I can exercise my right to head up (to England) earlier if I choose to," he said.
"I'll go through the process of working out what's best for me.
"In the long run it could be beneficial for me. It allows me the time to freshen up ... and just head up there when the time is right and rip into it."
The 16-test veteran doubted his decision to sign overseas next year counted against him with the All Blacks selectors.
Nor did he think his chances were damaged by playing the latter part of the Super 14 at his less-favoured fullback for the Blues.
However, he confessed to having little idea why he had missed out to uncapped Chiefs No 10 Stephen Donald in the training camp.
"I haven't heard from them (selectors) at all this season. It was different last year, they kept in touch," Evans said.
"It may have been the way they were handling everyone this year, I'm not too sure.
"You learn pretty quickly in this game never to never expect anything."
Evans believed he played the best rugby of his career during last year's World Cup but said his form had been "patchy" during the Super 14.
