Spencer: I’d like to return to the Blues
Former star first five-eighth admits he fancies coming back in coaching role
Carlos Spencer’s return to the Blues might be temporary for now, but the former star first five-eighth admits he wouldn’t mind making the move a permanent one in the future.
The 42-year-old is in Auckland this week gearing up to play for his old club at this weekend’s Brisbane Tens rugby tournament.
Although he coaches the Sunnix Blues in Japan, Spencer said he would like to return to the Auckland Super Rugby franchise in a coaching capacity one day.
“The aim was always to come back one day if the opportunity was there,” he said. “I’d love to come back here and coach one day when the opportunity comes up. “But I’m happy where I am.” Spencer left Auckland in 2005 after over 90 Super Rugby games, heading to England and enjoying a stint with Northampton.
He rounded off his playing career back in Super Rugby, but in South Africa with the Lions.
After over a decade away, Spencer had returned home to the Blues and was looking forward to throwing the old jersey back on and reconnecting with his old club.
“I’m very proud about this club so just to be back here amongst these young boys having a run around is a privilege and an honour.”
It remains to be seen how much time on the pitch Spencer will see, but he remains fit.
However he admitted the contact side of the sport was a bit harder to get back in to.
“It’s just taking the initial contact, which I’ve never liked anyway.
“[The team’s] main focus is building toward Super rugby and I realise that so I’ve just got to play a part in whatever they want me to do.” Carlos Spencer wants to return home to coach.
Blues coach Tana Umaga said he had no expectations of Spencer heading into the event, and they would distribute his minutes on a “play it by ear” basis.
“When he wants to go on, we’ll put him on, and when he wants to go off, we’ll take him off and we’ll see how long that lasts.”
The Blues have been put in pool A along with the Reds, Rebels and Japan’s Panasonic Wild Knights for the tournament, which runs on Friday and Saturday.
Meanwhile, Conrad Smith says he’d be glad to avoid his beloved Hurricanes when his side Pau hit the field at the Brisbane Tens.
He also admits his time in professional rugby is almost over.
Smith, a 94-test All Black who formed a world-class midfield pairing with Ma’a Nonu, has travelled from his southern French base with his team for the Tens.
Smith played his entire Super Rugby career — 126 games in total — with the Hurricanes, but never won a title.
They eventually broke their trophy duck in 2016, a year after his exit.
Now 36 Smith said he was relieved to steer clear of the Canes in pool play and hoped to avoid a rematch later in the tournament. “That would’ve been a bit strange,” he said.