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NZRU `rejects` Marshall`s offer

Sunday 11th May 2008

Marshall: No cash offer so no homecoming

Justin Marshall's hopes of returning to see out his rugby career in New Zealand have been dashed after the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) rejected the Ospreys scrum-half's approach.

Marshall wants to return home and play for Canterbury in the Air New Zealand Cup in August and has even negotiated an early release from his contract with the Welsh region.

But the NZRU, who have posted a financial loss in the past two years and have seen the number of All Blacks heading to the northern hemisphere increase, dealt a blow to the plans of the 81-Test veteran.

"I wasn't after anywhere near [the salary] I was on before I left three years ago," he told the Sunday Star-Times.

"But we didn't even get to the stage of negotiating money because basically they told me they had none so could not afford me."

Last week, Nick Evans, Caleb Ralph and Craig Newby announced they were leaving New Zealand at the end of the year, while Jerry Collins has been linked with several clubs in the northern hemisphere and has said he is interested in playing abroad at some stage.

"It's amazing how many players are leaving," said Marshall.

"So I was a little shocked they basically turned away a guy wanting to reverse the exodus and give back to the game in New Zealand some of what I had learned."

But Neil Sorensen, NZRU general manager of professional rugby, had a different take on the matter.

He said: "While we recognise the value of having experienced players return to New Zealand, we also have to balance that against the importance of retaining those players already in New Zealand, including current All Blacks and experienced players, and those players coming through the system who will be our future All Blacks."