Wednesday 26 July 2017 10:49, UK
New Zealand vice-captain Ben Smith will face Australia in two tests next month before triggering a sabbatical clause in his contract.
The 31-year old, who has played in 62 Tests for the All Blacks, will take a break until the start of next season in order for his body to recover; a deal negotiated into the contract extension he signed in February.
Smith aims to reach the 2019 World Cup in prime condition and follows a precedent set by Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, who both took breaks prior to the 2011 and 2015 World Cups.
"Contractually he's on sabbatical now," his agent Warren Alcock told the New Zealand Herald.
"He has decided to make himself available for the two Bledisloe games because he has missed some rugby this year.
"We built in quite a significant sabbatical for him because to get him through to 2019 we felt that's what he was going to need physically and mentally."
Smith featured for the All Blacks against the British and Irish Lions this summer but was forced to miss the final two Tests due to an ear problem, a factor in the player's decision to take time out.
"What has changed is he was injured and had a reasonable break out of Super Rugby and missed a couple of Lions games so he's reassessed things and decided he was keen to be available for the next two games and then he'll take his sabbatical," added Alcock.
The full-back will miss four Rugby Championship Tests against South Africa and Argentina along with the third Test with Australia as well the end of year tour of France, Scotland and Wales.
