Wing Hosea Gear open to offers from Europe

http://www.espnscrum.com/newzealand/rugby/story/146956.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Wing Hosea Gear is reportedly considering a move abroad following his All Blacks World Cup squad snub.

The 27-year-old, whose partner is expecting twins in three weeks' time, said he would talk to his family and take time to ponder his future but hinted that it was likely to lie abroad.

"I'd like to get back in there (the All Blacks) but from experience I've sort of been in and out and I'm not getting any younger," Gear said. "I've got a young family that I need to think about and take care of.

"If you miss out on the All Blacks, financially it's a massive loss that you're making that you could be making overseas."

Gear and 45-Test veteran Sitiveni Sivivatu were the outside backs culled from the squad named yesterday, the All Blacks coaches preferring the all-around skills of Zac Guildford and the versatility of Isaia Toeava, Cory Jane and Israel Dagg. Gear, who is contracted until after the World Cup, said the tournament had been a long-held ambition of his and it was now time to reassess things.

"This (the World Cup) has been my goal for the last three or four years and I think it is time to take that next step and think about the future now."

He did not have any overseas offers on the table, but did have Super Rugby contracts from the Hurricanes and the Highlanders to consider and did not rule out remaining in New Zealand. Gear missed the Tri-Nations squad last season before putting in superb performances on the end-of-season northern hemisphere tour, scoring five tries in three matches to end the year as the form All Blacks wing.

But this year, shoulder and hamstring injuries restricted his impact, although he said he only had himself to blame for not making the World Cup squad after two chances to impress against Australia and South Africa.

"I'm disappointed and pretty gutted," Gear said. "There's more that I wanted to do, I didn't really get too many opportunities, but I put that down to myself not making myself available enough on the field to get my hands on the ball. That's just the way it panned out, and I accept that.

"I obviously just didn't take my opportunities as well as some of the other boys, and those guys fully deserve to be there and I do wish them all the best."

Gear's older brother Rico suffered the same fate prior to the 2007 tournament, and talked with his younger sibling today. "He's pretty supportive, he's been in that situation before. I think he got through that pretty positively and hopefully I'll do the same."

Rico Gear left New Zealand in 2007 and played three seasons at Worcester in England before joining Japanese club Kintetsu Liners last year. After being informed of his omission by the All Blacks coaches, Hosea Gear was told to keep training in case he is called into the squad.

"The coaches have said I'm only injury away... and who knows anything can happen."

He has put his hand up to play for Wellington in the national provincial championship against his former province North Harbour at Albany on Friday. Gear said he was braced for the eventuality of missing the squad, and was now intent on preparing for the arrival of the twins to help take his mind of the disappointment.

"It was inevitable that someone was going to miss out and I was prepared for that, just as some of the other boys would have been as well. I'm out of one job and straight into the next so that gives me a focus and something to look forward to."

Well I would imagine there's a French team that will sort him out with a contract no problem at all. Not sure there's any English teams with salary cap though maybe an Irish province might take a punt on him.

Hosea Gear to Connacht?

Neither or Leinster or Ulster will not be interested and Connacht can't afford.

Munster I assume will have other priorities when the NIQ number is reduced to 4 next year - so I would forget Ireland.

Agree with Geoff. I'd imagine Munster are fine for wingers too - Howlett, Zebo, Earls, Hurley, Murphy. Flanker and centre will be our priorities. I'd imagine Howlett will go back to NZ.

Perpignan could do with a worldclass winger (they have Planté who is real good but thats about it) but they dont play HC so dont think they will target him.
Biarritz signing were low key on purpose (they went for young potential) so the only one that could be tempted and could afford him would be racing metro....toulon being more focused in looking for a new manager (PSA taking over the french manager role after the RWC)... so doubt gear wont come here...probably go to japan instead.

Get on the phone McGeechan!!!

I would welcome him with open arms at the Rec.

Yes please, come on Bath dig deep and spend. we need a quality proven top class winger, he'd fit the bill and sod the salary cap everyone seems to bend the rules on that one, offer him a potatoe farm on jersey as part of the deal.

I think most clubs/regions would welcome him but I hate to think what salary he will ask for especially as the backisde has fallen out of the € or £/NZ$ exchange rate.
I guess that probably just leaves the French teams then.