Umaga to Resume Playing

Failure as a coach at Toulon Tana Umaga 35 is set to return to playing.
At 35 though a great player in his prime I would prefer that he stay retired.

Former All Black Tana Umaga says comeback was his decision - Telegraph

Former All Black Tana Umaga says comeback was his decision

Former New Zealand captain Tana Umaga has insisted that he was not forced into making a shock playing comeback, 18 months after he last appeared on the pitch.



By Brendan Gallagher
Last Updated: 1:00PM GMT 29 Jan 2009

https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif Lending a hand: Tana Umaga wants to do all he can to assist Toulon Photo: REUTERS


Umaga's failure as a coach to mould a successful top 14 side at big-spending Toulon this season has led to the hiring of former French winger and Sale coach Philippe Saint-Andre as sporting director for next season.
But Umaga, whose last competitive match was on August 11, 2007, in Wellington, says he is looking forward to resuming his playing career and that club president Mourad Boudjellal had not pushed him into it.
"It's my decision. I want to be able to say that I did everything I could to help this club and this team," Umaga, who is now 35, said.
"I didn't want to look back and think: 'Ah, if only I had'. It took time to come to this decision. I talked it over with my family and close friends. Putting on the boots again can make things possible. In life, to get what you want, you have to make sacrifices."
Umaga could return to action as soon as Friday when Toulon meet Mont-de-Marsan, the only team below them in the top 14, but his decision to return has been clouded by the reasons behind it.
Some reports have even suggested that Boudjellal insisted that Umaga justify his salary at the club, believed to be in the region of 35,000 euros (46,000 US dollars) a month but Umaga is adamant that the decision was his.
"I repeat – I decided. I'm doing it because I believe it's good for the team. Whatever other people say is their business. It doesn't keep me awake at night," Umaga told L'Equipe.
The New Zealander, who is still in charge of the team despite three wins in 15 games, believes he can perform a job both on the pitch and on the sidelines. "At this moment you need more than words, you have to act."
Umaga also said that the arrival of Saint-Andre can only help him become a better coach in the long term: "You have to be open. I'm ready to learn a lot from Philippe Saint-Andre when he arrives. It's going to be good for me."
Umaga guided Toulon into the top flight last year but the team are currently second from the bottom of the top 14 table despite investing huge sums in high-profile players including Jerry Collins, Joe van Niekerk and Sonny Bill Williams.
Saint-Andre, the former France captain, led Sale to the English championship title in 2006 and the European Challenge Cup crown a year earlier.
He arrived at the English Premiership side in 2004, having previously performed an identical role with Gloucester and in France with Bourgoin. Saint-Andre won 68 caps for France, 34 of them as captain, and is second in France's all-time try-scorers list with 32, behind Serge Blanco (38).