Sport

Hore doubts he'll pull on the black jersey again, keen to live the quiet life

11:42 am on 27 November 2013

The veteran hooker Andrew Hore has announced his retirement from the All Blacks - more or less.

Hore was among five All Blacks who touched down in Auckland on Wednesday morning after completing a perfect 14 wins from 14 tests.

And Monday's last-gasp win over Ireland in Dublin appears likely to be the last time Hore will play for New Zealand.

The 35-year-old presumes he's played his last test - Hore doesn't have a Super Rugby contract for next season and at this stage is only planning on working on his Maniatoto farm and playing club rugby.

Although All Blacks coach Steve Hansen's said he could keep picking Hore despite the 35-year-old not having a Super Rugby contract for next season, Hore doubts he'll play for his country again.

Hore says most people don't get to say they won't be playing for the All Blacks, they just don't make the side so to be there as long as he has is something, and he's loved every minute of it.

He says he didn't have a big send-off with the team, or anything like that, as it's not really his style.

Highlights of his 83 Test caps include his first test against England at Twickenham back in 2002, the World Cup victory in 2011, and the defeat of the Springboks in October this year.

Hore also scored 40 points for the All Blacks.

His erstwhile Highlanders team-mate, the 23-, Canterbury Crusaders Ben Funnell (23) and Wellington Hurricanes' Motu Matu'u (26) have emerged as likely contenders to battle for the place of third hooker next season.

Another group of All Blacks have been doing promotional work in New York, visiting the headquarters of the NBA and Twitter, while others are holidaying elsewhere before returning for pre-season training in the new year.