Gear dreams of All Blacks chance

‘That’s every New Zealand rugby player’s dream, and it’s still one of mine.’

HOSEA GEAR is back and, to borrow the parlance from baseball, he is swinging for the fences.

The 30-year-old former All Black has returned to New Zealand rugby after stints in France (with Toulouse) and Japan (Honda) to take up what he calls a ‘‘perfect fit’’ one-year deal with the Chiefs for this year’s Super Rugby competition.

And yesterday in his first media appearance since joining up with his third Super Rugby franchise, he made it clear he is a man on a mission as he looks to cross off some high-level ambitions he still has in the game.

‘‘There are a

few

factors

that brought me back and rugby is definitely one of them,’’ he said from Auckland Airport before heading to Sydney for the Chiefs’ final preseason hitout against the Waratahs in western Sydney tonight.

‘‘I wanted to bring my young family back home as well, get them to learn the culture a little bit more and obviously be closer to family as well.’’

But when pushed, the affable Gear admits the rugby goals are the real drivers.

‘‘I’d love to win a Super Rugby title, so I thought coming to the Chiefs would give me a good opportunity to do that.

‘‘I was fortunate the coaches took me on board and now I’m purely committed to giving everything to the team.’’

Hosea Gear on playing for the All Blacks

Then there is the small matter of a World Cup later this year which Gear, like so many of his peers, would dearly love to be part of.

‘‘That’s every New Zealand rugby player’s dream, and it’s still one of mine and was a big motivating factor to come back,’’ he added.

Gear is part of a dramatic supersizing of the Chiefs backline for 2015. At 1.88m and 104kg he is a strapping wing and when you include him with the supreme athleticism of Sonny Bill Williams and the power of last year’s provincial standout Seta Tamanivalu, you can see why coach Dave Rennie is practically licking his lips over the firepower at his disposal.

‘‘He’s very highly motivated and very professional. He’s looked after his body, and is in really good shape,’’ Rennie said of his second biggest signing of 2015.

Rennie noted the size of Gear and fellow wings Bryce Heem and James Lowe, along with a potential midfield of Williams and Tamanivalu, and admitted: it ‘‘does give us another string to our bow.’’

Gear, for his part, was rapt when the Chiefs showed interest in giving him a home for his come- back tilt. ‘‘I’ve heard a lot about the culture, the environment, and they’ve got a great coaching staff.’’

The father of three also hopes the closer proximity to his home town of Gisborne will enable him to cross off another special goal this season.

‘‘Hopefully a few of my grandmothers can come and watch a game as well. They’ve never seen me play live.’’

As for where he sees himself after a ‘‘freshening’’ stint in Japan, following what he called an ‘‘awesome’’ experience with Toulouse, his appraisal would have been music to Rennie’s ears.

‘‘I’d like to think I’m coming back a better player, more so mentally than anything else,’’ he said.