Rugby: McAlister wants early release

Luke McAlister. Photo / Getty Images

Luke McAlister may have played his last game for North Harbour.

The former All Black back, who was absent from training earlier this week and dropped for the opening ITM Cup game against Otago tonight, met Harbour chief executive Brett Hollister with his father/manager Charlie McAlister yesterday.

"He's committed to being there on Saturday morning," Hollister said after the meeting, referring to Harbour's next training run ahead of their first home game in the cup, against Tasman next Tuesday night.

Charlie McAlister said the reason his son had missed training on Monday and Tuesday was to be with his ill son in hospital, who has a heart condition.

McAlister has sought an early release from his New Zealand Rugby Union contract to take up a three-year deal with French club Toulouse, and the national body is unimpressed.

NZRU general manager professional rugby Neil Sorenson characterised the McAlisters' position as "We don't want to hang around for the ITM Cup. We want to start our contract offshore."

If Toulouse fork out financial compensation, McAlister could be off soon. His contract with the NZRU runs until the end of the year.

But if McAlister can get an early release, what if other prominent players heading overseas later this year fancy taking an early flight out?

"We'll be looking for early release payment from the club he's going to and unless we are fully satisfied with the terms of such a release he won't be going anywhere," Sorenson said.

This is the second time the 27-year-old, 30-test All Black has headed overseas in his rugby prime. He spent two seasons at English club Sale after the 2007 World Cup.

The NZRU position is clear: it's time to move McAlister on, once the financial position is satisfactorily resolved.

"If I was coach of Harbour I'd be saying 'fine, we'll find someone who is committed to our union and our country'," Sorenson said.

Granting McAlister an early release is "certainly a precedent we don't want to set".

The player wasn't talking yesterday but was busy tweeting.

"Mate, there's a release option in my contract which I'm looking @," he tweeted. "Not jst [sic] going to do a runner. I am going through the right channels."

And then: "Bro everyone makes decisions on what's best for them and their family. Tikina to whanau [look out for your family]."