Highlanders and All Blacks stalwart Anton Oliver is weighing up offers to continue his rugby career in France after the World Cup in October.
Oliver, 31, who is likely to return to Super 14 action for the Highlanders against the Bulls on Saturday night, told the Otago Daily
Times playing rugby in France was a possibility and it should not surprise people if he chose to do so.
"I think I have made it explicitly clear that this is it. I'm not playing rugby in New Zealand beyond 2007," he said.
"I don't know what I'm going to do after that. A couple of French clubs have been in contact about the possibility of playing over there. That's an option.
"I'd probably only look to play for one year. I've never played for anyone else, so I don't know what it would be like."
Toulon, which is chasing promotion from the French second division, is one of the clubs believed to be interested in Oliver.
Another former All Black captain Tana Umaga played there for two months late last year.
Oliver said he would probably make his decision in another month.
"One thing I've realised is that when these days are done, there's no going back ... I'm quite happy with that in a New Zealand sense, because a lot of people will be quite happy to see the end of me.
"I've been around for some time, like one of those barnacles at the bottom of a boat."
Oliver is one of 22 New Zealand players who have just completed a reconditioning period to get players ready for the World Cup.
He is likely to be named in the Highlanders squad today for the Bulls match.
- NZPA
