Rugby: Muliaina negotiates rest deal

Mils Muliaina will take a sanctioned three-week sabbatical but will continue to train. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina will sit out the first three rounds of next year's Super 14 as part of a deal that sees him commit to New Zealand rugby until the 2011 World Cup.

A desire to right the wrongs of two failed cup campaigns was the key reason the All Black fullback re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union and Waikato yesterday, turning his back on rumoured big money offers from Toulon and Cardiff Blues.

The NZRU's willingness to grant him a sabbatical was also a crucial factor in his decision.

The third prominent All Black after Daniel Carter and Ali Williams to be granted a leave clause, Muliaina will miss the Chiefs' season-opening tour next year.

A back scare earlier this season, when he damaged a disc picking up a piece of paper and missed several games, convinced the 28-year-old he needed an extended break.

"That probably scared me the most, how that came on," he said.

"Before that I was getting a lot of hammy problems and soft-tissue issues, so I definitely needed some time away.

"The [NZRU] have been absolutely outstanding in listening to some of my concerns. That is all I could have asked for."

Although he won't travel or play during his sabbatical, he will continue to train and is likely to retain the Chiefs captaincy.

Believed to be a key target of Toulon's director of rugby, Philippe Saint-Andre, Muliaina confirmed he had turned down a huge offer to pursue his World Cup dream.

"It is not until you get an offer put in front of you that you think 'far out', you really have to start thinking seriously about it," he said.

"But for me, the financial sacrifice made by me and my family, the All Black jersey outweighs that.

"People think that is something that is just thrown out there, that guys just [talk] about the jersey meaning so much. But I am certainly one of the players who realises how precious it is and I'm not willing to give it up just yet.

"I love the All Blacks and I love this country. And the dream to hopefully win a World Cup is burning inside me."

Had the All Blacks not been bundled out of the last tournament by France in the quarter-finals, however, things would likely have been different.

"It is probably fair to say I wouldn't have had to make this decision if we'd done it right in 2007. I was really hurt after that last one and I know now that I have an opportunity to make sure that I am in the best shape of my life in 2011."

Muliaina is the 18th current All Black to commit until the World Cup or beyond, joining the likes of captain Richie McCaw, Carter, Rodney So'oialo, Keven Mealamu and Ma'a Nonu.

Already the most-capped All Blacks fullback with 68 appearances, he will be 31 when the tournament begins in October 2011.

The Chiefs are preparing to welcome back speedsters Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga for Saturday night's top-of-the-table showdown with the Hurricanes in Hamilton.

Sivivatu hasn't played since dislocating his shoulder while attempting to score a try against the Reds in round seven, and Masaga has been missing since damaging his ankle against the Lions a week later.

Both players missed the team's just completed three-match tour of South Africa but were back in full training yesterday.

Coach Ian Foster, who names his team today, has indicated both could return to action on Saturday. He was less optimistic about halfback Brendon Leonard, who has been out since round 10 with a sternum injury.

More than 21,000 tickets have been pre-sold, and the match is expected to be a sellout.