Waikato hero heads to Japan

By WYNNE GRAY

Hometown hero Deon Muir will not be part of the All Blacks when the group to tour Europe are revealed in Hamilton today.

Muir will travel on Friday, the same day as the All Blacks, but his destination is Japan, where he has signed a contract with Sanix.

After Waikato fell 40-28 to Auckland in Saturday's NPC final in Hamilton, Muir told his team he would join lock Royce Willis, wing Bruce Reihana and, perhaps, prop Deacon Manu in farewelling the province.

Muir yesterday confirmed his departure. He had endured a difficult week containing his secret because he had not wanted to affect Waikato's build-up for the final.

The 28-year-old, who has led Waikato, the Chiefs and the New Zealand Maori side to success in recent seasons, always thought this would be his last New Zealand season.

"My main goal was to try to get to 100 games for Waikato, get the team into the top four and go out on top.

"At the start of the year I was always going overseas," he said, "but then I started getting mixed messages about the All Blacks.

"It was very tough deciding."

Eventually Muir decided he could not reject a lucrative contract for the possibility of an All Black tour.

Even his father, his most fervent supporter, told Muir to take the opportunity to replace Jamie Joseph at the Sanix club.

"The semifinal [Muir's 100th match] was special, and on the Sunday I decided I would go.

"I just thought it could not get any better than the semi."

Muir had been facing New Zealand Rugby Union pressure to sign a contract so Super 12 issues could be settled. It was a scenario he thought unfair when the NPC was still going.

"I was brassed off. I was trying to concentrate in the middle of the competition," he said.

"Then, knowing the others were leaving, I worried if the team found out I was leaving too.

"It played on my mind but I could not tell the boys until after the match and that was tough."

* The new All Black management had an shoddy start when it back-tracked on a media release about tour details that said Taine Randell would captain the 26-strong group.

The initial release said coaching co-ordinator Robbie Deans and captain Randell would hold a conference in Cardiff. Then an amended copy arrived soon after with Randell's name deleted.