Former All Blacks halfback Aaron Mauger is quitting English champion Leicester at the end of the season to return to New Zealand in the hope of playing at the Rugby World Cup.

Mauger joined the Tigers after the 2007 RWC but wants to go home after speaking to the New Zealand coaching team.

Mauger says his agent is arranging a central contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union and that he will sign if he feels fully recovered from the back problems that have hampered him for the past few months.

Mauger says his "desire is to play again for the All Blacks and Canterbury and give it my best crack."

He has played 46 times for New Zealand.

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