Isa Nacewa - One of New Zealand’s greatest rugby exports bids farewell

 Isa Nacewa
Leinster first-five Isa Nacewa Photo credit: Reuters

He's been described as a hero at Leinster and Ireland's best-ever signing.

Isa Nacewa has been a hugely influential player in his club's rise to become a force in European club rugby, since leaving Auckland in 2008.

Now at the age of 35, Nacewa is preparing for a last hurrah in his highly decorated career.

Two weeks ago, he guided Leinster to 15-12 glory over top French club Racing 92 to clinch a tight final in Bilbao.

"I only came back to win trophies," Nacewa told Newshub Sport from Dublin. "It took a lot longer than expected, but we finally got the one we wanted."

It was a record-equalling fourth European title for his beloved club and Nacewa has been involved in all of them, in two different stints.

Now the men from Ireland are facing their greatest rivals in the Guinness Pro-14 decider at Aviva Stadium.  

They're taking on the Wayne Pivac-coached Scarlets from Wales in front of their own fans at Aviva Stadium (5am kickoff, Sunday, May 27 NZ time).

"This has been one of my biggest bogeys in taking this title," he said. "I think I’ve missed out on the double, which is the Champions Cup - or European Cup back in the day - and the Pro 14…  about three times."

He can only add to the legend.

Nacewa never played for the All Blacks. A brief World Cup appearance for Fiji earlier in his career put paid to that.

But he’s become a household name on the other side of the world.

Nacewa has also become a father of four girls and three of them are at school.

They’re the priority before he packs up his possessions and family, and leaves his adopted city.

"The plan is to move back to New Zealand and finally come home. I have been over in Dublin, bar a little bit of time in New Zealand with the Blues, for the best part of 10 years."

Nacewa isn't sure if or when he will be involved with the Blues in Super Rugby.

He played 44 times for the franchise between 2005-08, before heading to Ireland.

"I’m still very passionate about the Blues. Obviously, with Leon Macdonald joining up with Tana, fingers crossed they start to turn fortunes around for the club.

"It's definitely something I'd love to pursue in the future, if the timing was right."

But at this stage, family and a clean break comes first for the man who’s given so much time and energy to the Leinster club.

"I wouldn’t mind getting my weekends back for a while. It's an 11-month season up here in Europe.

"If I didn't do it now, I could fall straight back into the coaching lifestyle and fall straight back into a rugby team."

Newshub.