Rugby: Mackintosh excited about career possibilities

Jamie Mackintosh.
Jamie Mackintosh.
Former Highlanders prop Jamie Mackintosh admits his future is up in the air but he is not complaining.

Mackintosh, in the second year of his contract with the Chiefs, may be back on home soil on Saturday if selected when his side takes on the Highlanders in a crunch match in Invercargill.

It will be something of a homecoming for Mackintosh, who racked up more than 100 games for Southland and 67 games for the Highlanders.

Mackintosh (30), said that for the first time in his career he had no idea where he would end up next season.

''I'm off contract with the Chiefs and have nothing sorted at the moment. I have the option of going back to Southland for the ITM Cup but will then have to make a decision for my career,'' he said.

''I've been playing professional rugby pretty much since I left secondary school, 12 years, where I've been lucky enough to play for some teams in New Zealand ... but I'm at that stage in my career where I have to go where the contracts are.

''If the opportunity came up here to stay up here at the Chiefs or even come back to the Highlanders then that would be great. Maybe go overseas.

''I'm pretty excited about it. It is the first time since I started playing rugby after leaving school that I've not had a contract set for next year. Usually, I know for the next two or three years where I'll be.''

He was captain of the Highlanders for two seasons before Andrew Hore took over and Mackintosh eventually left after the side's disappointing 2013 season.

But any talk of revenge against the Highlanders was far from the big Southland prop's mind.

''I'll be excited to get home and play in front of family and friends. A lot of hard work goes into playing for a Super rugby team and not just at the game. You've got all the week beforehand to work hard.

''We've got that Southland connection. We've got the McKenzie brothers in our side, and they're from Southland. Plus we have some special players in our side. The likes of Liam Messam and Sonny Bill Williams.''

The man they call Whoppa, said this week the Chiefs were concentrating on making sure they did not give the Highlanders any opportunities on the counterattack.

Mackintosh, who played one test for the All Blacks in 2008, has had a stop-start season with the Chiefs so far this year.

The loosehead prop played in the opening half dozen games but when the team got back from South Africa he had to go to Perth for a family funeral and has not got back into the team since.

''We've got some good props up here and they are all playing well. But I'm working hard on the training field and just waiting for an opportunity.''

Mackintosh said his family would be at the game and they were now committed Chiefs supporters.

Add a Comment