Seoul Gazette - Fineanganofo rethinks Newcastle move after All Blacks call-up

The 23-year-old signed a contract with Premiership club Newcastle Red Bulls in January, before a stellar season with Super Rugby champions Wellington Hurricanes thrust him into the All Blacks reckoning.

Speedster Fineanganofo scored a Super Rugby record 17th try of the campaign as the Hurricanes lifted the title last weekend, earning him a place in new coach Dave Rennie's 34-man squad, named Monday.

Fineanganofo is due to join Newcastle in November when his contract with New Zealand Rugby expires and eligibility rules mean Rennie cannot select players who are contracted overseas.

Fineanganofo and his agent are now attempting to extricate him from the Newcastle contract so he can chase a place at the World Cup, to be played in Australia in October and November next year.

"I don't actually know," Fineanganofo said when asked where he will play in future.

"I'm just leaving it to my agent and I'm still waiting for him to come back to me, maybe in the next few weeks, but hopefully soon."

South Africa and Australia have relaxed their international eligibility in recent years, but New Zealand remain steadfast in only selecting those playing at home.

- 'We want the best': Rennie -

Rennie said he picked Fineanganofo for the home Tests against France, Italy and Ireland next month with the knowledge he could lose the player later in the year.

"He's available until November," said Rennie.

"We made a decision to pick him and again, that's based on form."

Rennie said he would "let others work through that process" of securing Fineanganofo's international future.

"We want the best players available and Fehi's one of those."

Fineanganofo said his original decision to sign for Newcastle had been financial, with his family's future in mind.

But he said circumstances had changed and it was now his family who were helping him to realise he should stay and chase his All Blacks dreams.

"It's probably one of the hardest decisions I've made this year," he said.

"You know, to choose out of the jersey or family. At the start of this year I chose family, and now things have changed.

"My parents could see as well. You just can't give up an opportunity like this."

If a deal for Newcastle to release Fineanganofo cannot be reached, the wing said he would fulfil his contract.

Until then, he is relishing his first chance to be part of an All Blacks squad.

He spoke of his parents' reaction when he called them with the news he had been selected.

"It's special. They just started crying and dad started punching the roof of his car," Fineanganofo said.

"It was actually pretty loud. My teammates were getting worried."

After facing France, Italy and Ireland, New Zealand depart for an eight-match tour of South Africa in August and September.

The trip will include four Tests against the world champion Springboks, a series being dubbed "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry".

A.Byun--SG