A tussle over the availability of Jordie Barrett for age-representative football has emerged as New Zealand Rugby assesses its options for the upcoming British & Irish Lions Tour.
Barrett - who turned 20 in February - was named in the u20s side to play at the Oceania tournament at the end of the month and is eligible to play for New Zealand at the under 20 World Championships in Georgia next month
But while he's likely the first name on the team sheet for u20s coach Craig Phillpott following standout performances at last year's World Championships in England, his senior commitments look like they could cancel out any age-representative football.
"The understanding was that Jordie's waiting for a bit of information on that as to whether he's allowed to go [to Georgia]," Hurricanes assistant coach Jason Holland said.
"But as far as we know, he plays this weekend and we'll hear updates on that going forward."
Senior rugby commitments haven't previously overruled age-representative rugby with the likes of former Blues five-eighth Simon Hickey playing an under 20 championships in the middle of a Super Rugby campaign back in 2014.
However, Hickey was a gap-filler for the Blues and struggling to make a real impact in Super Rugby.
In contrast, Barrett is in scintillating form and has quickly become a staple in the Hurricanes side in the absence of Nehe Milner Skudder.
Barrett has also been selected as an 'apprentice' on the All Blacks end of year tour in 2016 and is being touted as a long-term international.
The decision of whether to send Barrett over to the under 20 World Championships will ultimately sit with New Zealand Rugby.
And it'll be a curious one; keep Barrett in New Zealand for the six weeks despite him likely being surplus to All Blacks selectors needs, or send him away whilst he's a key cog to the Hurricanes machine and firmly positioned under the microscope of the All Blacks' selectors?
Whatever the result, Holland expects Barrett to be an asset to either side, saying he's more than ready for the big time should he receive a call from the All Blacks selectors.
"He's definitely put himself right in the hunt. It depends on what the [All Black coaching team] want to do but I think he's capable of being [an All Black] right now."
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