Zac Guildford is rumoured to be heading to Wairarapa-Bush for the rest of the winter.
Steelform Wanganui coach Jason Caskey will not blanch if he receives the team sheet for Wairarapa-Bush ahead of tomorrow's defence of the Bruce Steel Memorial Cup and sees the name 'Z. Guildford' pencilled in at winger.
The rumour mill in Masterton has been awash this past week that the talented but troubled former 10-test All Black Zac Guildford, who was just released from his Tasman union contract for undisclosed reasons, will be staying with his grandparents near Featherston and will turn out in the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship.
While the Wairarapa-Bush union has been tight-lipped over the prospect, Guildford's uncle and former representative captain Daren Guildford said yesterday that his nephew was looking to come back to his roots.
"There were other opportunities offered to him - ones that would have been better for him financially - but he wants to go back home and help the team come into finals contention."
Guildford, who in 2009 debuted for the All Blacks at age 20 when he was spotlighted as a prodigious talent, has had a history of personal problems, mostly related to alcohol, and ended professional relationships with the Crusaders, French club Clermont Auvergne and the Waratahs.
Nonetheless, there has never been any denying of Guildford's talent on the field, with 86 Super Rugby caps to his name plus 74 games for Hawke's Bay, along with a 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medal in sevens.
"[I'm] not surprised, apparently it's been a rumour for a while," said Caskey of the prospects of facing the 27-year-old.
"I'd heard the New Zealand union were not going to let him sign a NZ contract, but maybe they will."
While Caskey has never met Guildford so could not say what he can offer to the Wairarapa Bush side at this stage of his career, he does acknowledge the former test player's accomplishments.
"I don't think anyone would say 'no' to him, it's just what he brings, I suppose."
WRFU's club development officer Paul Kenny also acknowledged the possibility Guildford could show up as early as this weekend.
"There's a chance, I believe there's a couple of other recruits as well."
Kenny understands the visitors have secured a couple of midfielders from the Manawatu scene, while former Canterbury utility back Sam Monaghan has joined them and later in the year Counties Manukau club rugby stalwart Armyn Sanders is heading south for work.
As expected, tomorrow's game has been moved from Cooks Gardens to Spriggens Park to give the muddy Cooks' pitch time to recover before the start of the Heartland Championship next weekend, as Caskey did not want wet-weather experts West Coast to have an edge.
The Wanganui team had yet to be confirmed before last night's training, with Irish lock Gavin Thornbury still recovering from the surgery to remove a boil, while fellow lock Sam Madams also has a niggling injury.
In addition, reserve flanker Jamie Hughes hurt his shoulder this week, while winger Samu Kubunavanua is getting over his ankle problems, although his Ngamatapouri brethren Michael Nabuliwaqa made it through the session nicely.
Caskey is also hoping to finally get utility back Craig Clare back on the park, likely making him the brain's trust in the midfield to partner new Irish first-five Steve Crosbie.
"We're hoping [Clare] will, he's got to train well tonight [Thursday] and if he comes through he definitely will."
As well as the last preseason hit out before Heartland kicks off next weekend, this game will have added spice as Wanganui will be defending the Bruce Steel Memorial Cup, given they miss Wairarapa-Bush in the round-robin draw.
"It will be something to play for, that's for sure," said Caskey.
Having finished fourth last year and recruited well, Guildford aside, the Bush could be serious title contenders this campaign, while Caskey does not want tomorrow's match to be a repeat of the 57-35 thriller last year on Masterton's artificial turf, where the home side came back after being 47-0 down.
"I'd hope not, we're hoping our defence is a lot better than that," said Caskey.
"Normally you'd be happy putting up 50 plus points, but you don't like conceeding 35 or whatever we did."