Maxwell looking to finish Japanese stint

Former All Black lock Norm Maxwell says he is likely to end his Japanese rugby career after the current season.

Maxwell left New Zealand last year after a turbulent off the field season which included a charge of assault in Dunedin and a gash to his arm from falling through a plate glass window after the Crusaders' Super 12 victory.

The incidents led Maxwell to admit publicly he had problems with alcohol.

The Press newspaper reported that Maxwell had had an offer from his club, Ricoh, to stay on for another season, but was likely to finish up earlier and spend time travelling.

Maxwell said he had been taken by Tokyo and the pleasant and peaceful Japanese people.

"It's a beautiful place to come. There's nice people here, very gentle, very polite sort of people.

"It's really nice to come here and get my body right and get myself right," he said.

Fellow New Zealanders Glen Osborne, Nathan Mauger and Bryce Robbins had helped him settle.

Maxwell admitted he was likely to retire and said he would like to return to Canterbury in a coaching capacity.

- NZPA