An ongoing battle with rheumatoid arthritis, and the sight of careers ended by head knocks, played a part in James Lowe's decision to seek his rugby fortune overseas.



Lowe is one of New Zealand's premier wings, is in the form of his life with the Chiefs and at 24 hopes he's still got a long career ahead.

But the mere hope of an All Blacks jersey is no longer enough to keep the modern young rugby professional in New Zealand.



Not when they've seen what James Lowe has.

He also lives with an arthritic condition that is a daily reminder of the fragility of the human body, and has seen two Super Rugby team-mates literally knocked out of the game, and another left on the ropes as he waits to see whether he'll ever get the chance to add to his lone test in the black jersey.

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Really, it's little wonder that Lowe has sidestepped a "heavy heart" to jump at a big-money offer from Irish club Leinster to join them at season-end on a three-year deal.





"It's a scary prospect thinking it could all be over very quickly, especially with my arthritis. And I keep on breaking as it is anyway, " said Lowe on Tuesday from his home in Nelson as he discussed his decision to leave New Zealand rugby.

"It was an awesome opportunity that came up, and hopefully if I'm smart enough I'll be able set myself up."

Lowe is into his fourth season with the Chiefs and has started the current campaign in blistering form, scoring three tries in back-to-back victories.

The proud Tasman and New Zealand Maori representative was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis as a teenager, a condition that left him bedridden and in agony. But with some fierce determination, and the aid of modern medicine, he has fought through to forge a standout career.

"It's something I live with," explained Lowe. "It takes me a wee bit longer to recover from such a physical sport, but I'm still able to perform, to train and get through absolutely everything. As long as my body holds up I'll keep playing rugby."

But Lowe conceded some glaring reminders close to home reinforced how short the modern career can be.

It had played a part in his decision to take an offer from Leinster that was significantly better than what was on the table for him to stay.

"It's a reality check, seeing now the effects of what a high contact sport can do. When I first got to the Chiefs was when Ben Afeaki had to retire which put things into perspective. And what Charlie [Ngatai] is going through at the moment, and Sean Polwart just had to retire. I remember the day he got that head knock, at training with the Chiefs. It's a scary thought."

Ngatai was in outstanding form for the Chiefs when a head knock sustained in May last year left him experiencing ongoing symptoms. The one-test All Black has not played since, with a cloud of uncertainty over whether he will make it back on the field this year.

Lowe admitted it had been a hard call to turn his back on his All Black dream, but confirmed the national coaches had not exactly been banging his door down.

"There's dialogue that's always happening between the All Blacks setup and the Chiefs coaches, and there was talk between the two," he said when asked if he'd had any indication he was close to a national callup. Previously he'd been informed "there were a few things I still need to work on".

The reality is he was stuck behind Julian Savea and Waisake Naholo, and utilities Nehe Milner-Skudder and Israel Dagg in the national pecking order. Possibly others too.

"You look at the amount of talent in New Zealand, and those settled All Blacks, with them re-signing Izzy (Dagg) and Bender (Ben Smith), and they've got Jules, Waisake, Rieko [Ionae], Damian [McKenzie], Melani [Nanai] ... the list goes on. It was a tough decision but I'm happy with where my head's at."

He says he's heard nothing but positive things about Leinster, that he would be doing it tough moving so far away from his family in Nelson and that he wouldn't rule out returning to New Zealand to continue his career.

He also left hanging the possibility of switching nationalities at the end of his three-year tenure (he is not captured by New Zealand). "I haven't even played for Leinster yet, so one step at a time," he said.

Meantime? Well, let's say he has a small but significant list of goals to tick off.

"I'd love to see Tassie win the Ranfurly Shield, the Chiefs win the Super title, and Tasman the provincial championship. That's the best-case scenario, but as long as I get through the season fully fit I'm happy with what I've done here."