Wynne Gray: Flavell taking time to decide on next move

Somewhere in the backblocks, Troy Flavell is pig-hunting.

He loves the chase during the day and the contrast at night, when he can sit around and ponder his sporting crystal ball.

Flavell is home after his latest rugby stint in Japan, off-contract and mulling over some career choices. He has yet to sort out what rugby he wants to target, whether he wants to strap the boots on again or where.

Does he give the game away and concentrate on some other career, should he take up one final overseas deal or stay put in New Zealand, settle his family and have one gynormous crack at making the next World Cup?

The lock/blindside flanker is not too old. He has just blown out 33 candles, still two shy of Brad Thorn's tally and is apparently in very good physical shape. He survived misdemeanours and bans during his career, injuries and several stints in Japan but was reclaimed by Graham Henry and Co in 2006 after five years in the international wilderness.

Is there a reunion, part II? At the start of this year, that prospect looked less than bleak. But serious injuries to Ali Williams and Jason Eaton have terminated their seasons and left their locking futures in limbo.

There is no standout tight lock to back up Thorn though Josh Bekhuis is starting to make headway while Isaac Ross, Anthony Boric, Bryn Evans, Tom Donnelly and Chris Jack are more suited to the middle of the lineout chores.

The law changes and renewed emphasis on ball-carrying, destructive athletes sounds like a sporting template for Flavell, if he still has the motivation and engine for that sort of challenge.

Flavell played most of his provincial rugby for Harbour and if he decided on a reunion that might go some way towards balancing the departures of Viliame Ma'afu, Anthony Tuitavake and George Pisi who are heading for alternate paymasters.

While former national tighthead prop Carl Hayman understandably claimed the lifestyle, anonymity and wealth of a contract with Toulon ahead of any more All Black aspirations, one of his old mates might be different.

There is some wheeze that 67-test All Black prop Greg Somerville wants to cut short his deal with Gloucester. He cannot play for another month after breaking his arm and there have been murmurs he also wants to bring his young family home sooner rather than at the 2011 end of his contract.