Wednesday 29 July 2015 17:25, UK
Troubled former All Black Zac Guildford has been offered a rugby lifeline by the New South Wales Waratahs.
The 26-year-old’s career has been blighted by personal issues and he walked out of a contract with French Top 14 side Clermont in May citing "personal reasons".
Since then, Guildford – who scored six tries in 10 Tests for the All Blacks – has been playing for his home provincial team Hawke's Bay.
New Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson – who succeeded Michael Cheika – worked with Guildford while he was an assistant coach with the Canterbury Crusaders and has approached the winger about returning to Super Rugby next season, when the competition will expand to 18 teams.
"I had a little bit of interest from New Zealand Super teams but I got on really well with Daryl Gibson at the Crusaders," Guildford told Radio Sport.
"I felt like I was appreciated and I played some of my best rugby under him. If I can get excited about playing for someone in a team that I'm excited about, that's when I play my best footy."
Guildford was relishing the prospect of playing alongside Waratahs Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley, saying they could create gaps for him to exploit.
He said the move to the Waratahs – who lost wingers Peter Betham and Taqele Naiyaravoro at the end of the 2015 season – had not been finalised but was "looking likely".
"I've got the contract there and it's just about inking it and going from there, finding a place to live and things like that," he said.
Guildford made his All Blacks debut against Wales in 2009 at the age of 20 and was part of the 2011 World Cup winning squad.
He admitted he was an alcoholic in March 2013 and temporarily withdrew from rugby and sought help.
His issues stem in part from the personal tragedy that struck him in 2009, when his father died of a heart attack while watching from the stands as his son and his New Zealand team-mates won the Junior World Cup in Tokyo.
