All Blacks half-back Piri Weepu says that he is close to switching codes.
Rugby league an option for discarded All Black
All Blacks half-back Piri Weepu says that he could be close to switching codes after he was left out of the World Cup squad.
Weepu has been in amongst the 22 players in Graham Henry's All Blacks squad all year, but was the big-name absentee from the 29-man World Cup squad named last week.
The 23-year-old Weepu told Television Three that he instantly thought about joining rugby league as soon as he heard he was not in the World Cup squad.
Having since thought about the matter, Weepu says he will now think over his future at the end of New Zealand's domestic season in October.
"I'll probably sit down and talk to my family after the domestic season," Weepu said.
"When I was told that I wasn't going to be in the squad, I was all frustrated and was pretty much giving up and going to rugby league. That's what I wanted to do after the World Cup.
Decisions
"But I spoke to my agent (and will) probably see out my contract and then make some big decisions."
Weepu was one of six players to break a midnight curfew and fined by All Blacks officials before their Tri-Nations clash with Australia.
There had been talk of Weepu's World Cup snub coming because of off-field issues, but he insists selectors never raised that reason.
"They never told me my drinking or off-field issues were part of the reason why I wasn't selected," he said.
Weepu will continue to play for Wellington until October but he has always had a liking for rugby league and his World Cup blow could only serve to hasten his switch.
