Blues midfielder Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has revealed how All Blacks coach Ian Foster reacted to news of his shock return to NZ Warriors.
Tuivasa-Sheck will return to rugby league next season, after signing a three-year deal with his former NRL club.
The Rugby World Cup hopeful faces an uphill battle for selection for the tournament in France this year, with the task made that much harder by his decision to switch codes.
A hand injury has kept the second-five out of Super Rugby Pacific since mid-March, but he is expected to return to action next week.
He has disclosed the conversation he had with Foster about his plans to return to rugby league.
"I had to front it and spoke with Fozzie, and he just said to me he's happy, like me, that I've secured my future," said Tuivasa-Sheck. "It's business as usual, it's back to work."
Despite an underwhelming two years in rugby, not helped by COVID-19 restrictions, Tuivasa-Sheck will leave the sport with no regrets. He has expressed his privilege of playing with All Blacks stars and is content with what he's achieved in such little time.
"The only frustrating part would be the injuries, but I'm pretty happy with how I've been going at rugby," Tuivasa-Sheck said. "I'm not overwhelmed and I'm not headlining as a rugby player, but still happy with the time I've had here so far.
"There's still a few more months of me as a rugby player, so I'm still going to be chasing my best and my best self. I just have to prepare well, train well, and try and get on the park.
"It was exciting, it was a challenge, I'm going up against your David Havilis, your Jordan Barrett, your Riekos... those players are superstars.
"I was just pretty lucky to rub shoulders with them, and I still, to this day, want to continue that and chase that environment."
As Super Rugby Pacific reaches its halfway point, intensity is expected to ramp up, with playoff and World Cup spots on the line.
Tuivasa-Sheck still harbours All Black aspirations and will do everything in his power to push his case in a stacked Blues midfield.
"It's definitely a dream, but before I get there, I need to get myself back on the Blues park, and that's by preparing and training well," he said.
"It's tough competition, at the moment, making the team. Harry [Plummer] and Bryce [Heem] are doing really well, and I don't know who's going to take Rieko [Ioane's] spot - I don't know if anyone can.
"There's a midfield there and that's where the competition is, and it's exciting for the club. I just need to make sure I need to get back to that first."
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