All Black hooker Andrew Hore is keen to return to the Highlanders next year.
Hore and All Black team-mate Ma'a Nonu are both on the lookout for new Super 15 rugby homes next season.
Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett confirmed yesterday that bruising midfield back Nonu and Hore were not being offered contracts by the franchise for next year.
Nonu has been linked with a potential move to the Chiefs, while Hore is understood to want to return to Otago, where he owns a farm, and play for the Highlanders.
Hore grew up in the Maniototo and was educated at John McGlashan College.
He played for the Dunedin club and had 11 games for Otago between 1998 and 2000.
He shifted to Taranaki in 2001 and has played 58 first-class games for that province.
Hore made his Super rugby debut for the Crusaders in 2001 when he played six games, and since 2002 has played more than 100 games for the Hurricanes.
Hore made his All Black debut in 2002 and has played in 50 tests.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph was not available to comment, while Highlanders manager Roger Clark preferred not to comment until he had discussed the prospects of contracting Hore with Joseph.
Under the new arrangements, started this year, the Super 15 franchise coaches are able to contract their own players without reference to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.
