Reihana puts home ahead of sterling

All Blacks coach Graham Henry is pleased outside back Bruce Reihana is returning to New Zealand.

The New Zealand Rugby Union announced yesterday that Reihana, who played for the All Blacks in 1999 and 2000, will rejoin Waikato on a contract that will keep him there until at least 2007.

Henry, who has made no secret of his liking for Reihana, said last night he was a very good rugby player.

"He had a desire to come back to New Zealand and we had a desire to get him back. It was like minds getting together.

"I was keen for Bruce to come back. I think he's a quality player."

Reihana, who was coached by All Black backs coach Wayne Smith at Northampton, will return to New Zealand once his English contract expires.

"I am looking forward to getting back into rugby in New Zealand and it is also great for my family to be moving back home, and to be back with our extended family," said Reihana, who turned down a lucrative offer to remain in Europe.

"I have really enjoyed the competition here in the UK and the experience it has given me.

"But I am also a very proud New Zealander, and the opportunity to re-join some of my old provincial and Super 12 teammates, along with the possibility of playing in an All Blacks jersey again, was too hard to resist."

Reihana was last season named the Professional Rugby Association's Players' Player of the Year and has won many other accolades during his time in Europe.

NZRFU deputy chief executive Steve Tew said the question of Reihana's eligibility for All Blacks selection for the series next year against the British Lions and other winter tests remained open.

It would be subject to approval from the NZRFU board and could be considered once Reihana was resident in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Henry would like to see Daniel Carter play at first five-eighths against Northland on Saturday week - but Canterbury coach Aussie McLean cannot guarantee him game time there.

Carter, the All Blacks' first-choice second five-eighths in the Tri-Nations campaign, played the last two NPC first-division games against Southland and Waikato at fullback.

That followed two games in the equally unfamiliar role of centre.

Carter has started 10 games for Canterbury and the Crusaders at first five-eighths but has never worn the No 10 jersey at test level.

But Henry confirmed yesterday he saw the Cantabrian as a possible option at first five-eighths for the November tour to Europe and a potential long-term successor to Andrew Mehrtens and Carlos Spencer in the pivot's role.

He would like to see Carter play at 10 in the NPC and hoped Canterbury would give him a run there against Northland in the final round-robin game on October 9.

But the All Blacks coach was at pains to point out there had been no pressure exerted on Canterbury and he appreciated McLean's dilemma.

"Aussie has got a situation where he has got Mehrts, Aaron Mauger and Daniel Carter and he wants to play them all, because they are among the best seven backs he's got available," Henry said.

"I can understand why Dan is at fullback. He's probably got the all-round skills to play better at fullback than the other two."

McLean said he was sympathetic to the All Blacks' wishes, and Canterbury would always be "supportive" of the national cause.

* Former All Black captain Anton Oliver said yesterday this was probably his last season in New Zealand.

"I haven't signed anything for next year. But yes, it's probably quite likely that this will be my last season," he said.

- NZPA, additional reporting staff reporter