Umaga may skip NPC completely

Tana Umaga should be raring for action by the time the end-of-year tour to the UK starts in November. Picture / Herald on Sunday

All Black captain Tana Umaga may be absent from any NPC action this season, in order to be fully rested before leading the All Blacks on their crucial end of year tour to the UK.

Umaga is taking time away from the game at the moment, refreshing himself after the successful Lions and the Tri-Nations campaigns, and has been ruled out of the remaining NPC rounds, unless Wellington is in a playoff position.

Provincial coach John Plumtree says Umaga will be available for the last round robin of the competition, should Wellington be in the running for the top four and they will then review his availability for the playoffs.

Plumtree says he can totally understand the All Black selectors wanting to rest Umaga out of the NPC, especially at his age and the workload he has had this year, and it is a good idea to give the captain time away from the game to freshen up mentally and physically.

Meanwhile, Jerry Collins is set to re-join his Wellington NPC team next weekend.

Collins has completed a two week suspension earned from the Carisbrook Tri-Nations test, but is still being rested for another week.

Plumtree says Collins has started training, and is keen to get back into it.

Plumtree is praising Collins' work ethic.

The flanker has been working hard to regain his strength which might have dropped slightly since the Tri-Nations.

Plumtree says after a mixed start to the season, the Wellington side is in need of a refreshing player like Collins, who can add some spark.

- NEWSTALK ZB