Hore ready to pack it in?
Although his passion for Test rugby remains, All Blacks hooker Andrew Hore's time in the Test arena appears to be drawing to a close.
The veteran front row forward has not been offered a Super Rugby contract for next year, which is a requirement to represent the All Blacks, which means that the current tour could be his last.
Speculation has been building that the hooker is set to call time on his Test career, and when probed about his plans for next year Hore revealed that his only commitment thus far is to his club Maniatoto in Central Otago.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said in Septmeber that Hore is unlikely to feature at the 2015 World Cup, whilst fellow hooker Keven Mealamu has expressed sadness that this tour looks set to be their last together.
Hore told AAP that although he would like to play for the All Blacks as long as possible, retirement from the top level of the game is a serious option at this stage.
"I think you want to play top level rugby as long as you can," he said.
"I suppose it's like a drug. All you want to do is play one game for the All Blacks and once you've had a go at it, you want to play every game.
"And if you're lucky enough to call time on it, it's even more special," he said.
With the clash against England this weekend Hore returns to Twickenham where he made his Test debut in 2002, which was the cause for some reflection on his time in the national side.
"When you're first in, you're nervous and you are thinking you know a lot about rugby and a lot about yourself," he said.
"Ten years down the track, you realise you were probably too early and you didn't know very much about yourself.
"Then you go away and hopefully make some good decisions in later life," he said.
