Former All Blacks utility back Ben Smith has ruled out a return to the Highlanders in the new Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.
Last week reports suggested Smith was back in New Zealand, after coronavirus ended the French Top 14 season and his Pau contract with it.
Due to the global pandemic, several overseas-based 'retired' All Blacks are returning home, including Sam Whitelock, who has signed for the Crusaders and Julian Savea, who hasn't secured a contract.
Smith's deal in France was due to expire in June and he was expected to move to Japan afterwards. While those plans might be on hold, he doesn't have any plans for a short-term contract in New Zealand.
But he may play some club rugby for his beloved Green Island.
"Super Rugby Aotearoa looks like a great concept," Smith says in an Instagram post.
"I'm looking forward to supporting the Highlanders and watching them give it a crack. I'm not sure where the speculation has come from, but I won't be playing in this year's competition.
"I'm looking forward to getting alongside my club side in Green Island and getting back to grassroots, where it all started."
The Highlanders have already signed outside backs Nehe Milner-Skudder and Vilimoni Koroi for the revamped Super Rugby competition, which begins on June 13, when the Highlanders host the Chiefs in Dunedin.
Smith played 153 games for the Highlanders, 84 tests for the All Blacks and sits one short of his 50 games for Green Island.
In his French Top 14 debut last December, Smith was sent off for an elbow-led fend to the neck of Stade Francais hooker Lucas Da Silva.
