Lee to return to his Hawke's Bay roots

Danny Lee

Former All Blacks halfback Danny Lee has signed a three-year contract to pursue his rugby career with Hawke's Bay.

"I want to make it very clear to everyone that I'm not coming back home to retire but to carry on playing rugby at the top level," Havelock North-born Lee said from Dunedin today.

Otago and Highlanders halfback Lee, 29, had been negotiating with Hawke's Bay officials for three months.

"I'm leaving Dunedin in November and I want to be playing for Hawke's Bay again and also be involved with the Hurricanes in the Super 14 competition next year," he said.

The former Chiefs and Counties-Manukau player, who represented the All Blacks twice in 2002 after moving to Otago, also considered playing in Britain.

"The other side of the world doesn't really excite me. You know, playing in wet and gloomy conditions."

Lee, 29, said it was frustrating for him to be sitting on the reserves bench for Otago, considering he had been loyal to the province for the past four seasons.

"It's disappointing how it's ending and with all the rumours flying around. All the whisperings and things haven't really helped me or my rugby.

"I haven't been playing much so I'm hoping to get some game time in the next four to five weeks.

"They've been putting me aside and making it tough for me to earn a livelihood," said Lee, who has been understudy for Chris Smylie this season.

Lee originally left Hawke's Bay to join Counties-Manukau in 1998.

His experience is seen as important as Hawke's Bay eye the inaugural NPC premier competition in 2006.

- nzpa