Clashes threaten Spencer's plans

Carlos Spencer

Carlos Spencer's farewell wish to play for the NZ Maori against the Lions will be quelled if he agrees to take part in Jonah Lomu's comeback match.

Spencer is expected to confirm today that he has signed for Northampton, a move that will end his 14 seasons of first-class rugby in New Zealand.

While that departure will eliminate Spencer from All Black consideration, it is understood the five-eighths was keen to sign off by playing for the NZ Maori against the Lions on June 11.

The complication was that Spencer also needed to play for the Maori in their first match against Fiji in Suva on June 3, the day before he had planned to be playing at Twickenham.

Spencer had indicated he would be involved in that June 4 game, which doubles as Martin Johnson's benefit game and Lomu's return to rugby after his kidney transplant.

If Spencer played in the charity game that would remove him from most of the pivotal training sessions for the Maori match with the Lions in Hamilton.

Five eighths on NZ Maori coach Matt Te Pou's selection list have been Spencer, Tasesa Lavea, David Hill and Luke McAlister.

Te Pou should have a number of All Blacks available to him for the Suva international, unless they have been injured in the Super 12 final.

A week later the Maori side has precedence over the All Blacks in selection for the match against the Lions.

Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Caleb Ralph, McAlister, Hill and Piri Weepu would be available while Carl Hayman, Corey Flynn, Joe McDonnell, Daniel Braid, Marty Holah, Jono Gibbes are all All Blacks who qualify.