KEY POINTS:
Do you miss living in New Zealand?
I guess I miss home, my family, my friends and that sort of thing, but it was my choice to come here and do this part of my life. With phones and internet, I get to contact them regularly. I do miss home, but that's OK.
What's good about life in the UK?
It's obviously different to home, and being around Manchester, rugby's not a very popular sport in this area. Football obviously dominates, whereas back in New Zealand, rugby's the national sport, so you get recognised a lot and you don't really get a lot of privacy. The good thing about coming over here is that you're pretty much anonymous. I can go down the road or go to the Trafford Centre and not be bothered by anyone, which is refreshing coming from New Zealand. The rugby here is a lot different also _ playing against guys that I've never heard of or seen before. Obviously the Heineken Cup was a big draw for us coming over. That's probably the biggest rugby you can play in Europe. In that regard, the rugby's a massive factor, and the lifestyle as well. I just felt the need to get away from New Zealand _ not because I don't like New Zealand or didn't like playing for the All Blacks _ I loved playing for the All Blacks. I wanted to get away and do something different for 18 months. It's not a long time. I haven't decided yet what I'm going to do when this contract's up, whether to go home or stay. It's a long time away _ 10 months _ so I guess I'll make those decisions when the time comes a bit closer.
Do you look differently at New Zealand now that you're away from it?
No, not at all. I love my country, where I'm from, my heritage, that sort of thing. I love watching the All Blacks play and I love watching my mates play. I look at coming over here as not a new start, but a new chapter. I don't look at New Zealand any differently _ I love my country, and I love representing my country no matter where I am. I'm very proud to be Kiwi.
New Zealand has lost a lot of experienced players. Can any country afford to lose that sort of quality?
It's funny because there aren't many people in New Zealand, compared to other countries, but we seem to produce some of the best players in the world. As rugby is so big back home, it's drummed into you from a young age, and you aspire to be an All Black. There's a lot of good coaching, and natural talent. There are a lot of guys leaving, but there's still going to be guys coming through, like the 19 to 21s, so those guys will get experience with those guys leaving. They'll get opportunities and get experience. The All Black coaches are good at giving the younger guys opportunities in big games, tests, or All Black games.
If you were talking to a young Kiwi who had represented the All Blacks, would you advise him to come here to play?
Everyone's different; everyone has different reasons for leaving. I wouldn't say yes or no to anyone, but I'd definitely give my opinion on my experience. I've loved it, I've loved coming over here; I've made new friends, new mates for life _ English, Scottish and Welsh.
Is the style of rugby here different compared to what you are used to?
It is a lot different. Obviously the weather is a lot different. It's a long season too, it goes for about 10 months. At home you're doing smaller competitions that are a bit more intense, but it's tough rugby. You've got a lot of big, physical players here. The week in, week out grind is very tough; it's probably the hardest competition in the world.
Graham Henry said recently that a lot of guys who have gone to the north have not been impressed by the style of rugby. Would you agree?
It's different; I came with an open mind, I didn't come over thinking it was going to be worse or better. I came with the attitude that I want to really enjoy it, and I have.
Does New Zealand have the players to build a winning side for the 2011 Rugby World Cup?
We've always had the players. Even in the last World Cup we probably had the best players, but I guess it's the team on the day. You can do four years' build&45;up to a Cup and have a bad game and you're out. I guess that's the thing about rugby _ anyone can win on any given day.
If you were available, would you consider rejoining the All Blacks to participate in the 2011 World Cup?
That'd be a goal. If I did go back though, I'd go back to North Harbour and start again, I suppose. I guess it would depend on how well I'm playing. You can't expect to go home and walk straight back into the All Blacks. I don't expect that at all, I never have. You have to work your way back in and get used to the style of play again.
- Hannah Bills is a photojournalist for Independent News & Media in London
