Give more players a break, says All Blacks hooker Taylor

New Zealand hooker Codie Taylor returned to rugby refreshed after a six-month sabbatical last year and hopes more of his teammates can benefit from time away from the coal-face.

Taylor took time off with the blessing of New Zealand Rugby which lets long-serving All Blacks down tools for a period so long as they return to domestic duty.

The sabbaticals are seen as an important tool to retain talent in a nation which bars overseas-based players from All Blacks selection.

Yet for every player "saved" by a sabbatical, there is a stampede for the exits at the end of every Rugby World Cup cycle as players chase lucrative club contracts in Japan and Europe.

Some disappear for years, others for good and rugby in New Zealand is poorer for their loss.

While NZR has limited sabbaticals to a small cohort of long-serving All Blacks, Taylor says the governing body could relax the policy to allow more players the option of a break which could rejuvenate a career.

"Yeah, I think so. It's been something that has been in a few players' contracts, and whether or not they've wanted to take it ... that's for them to decide," the 96-cap All Black told Reuters.

"I've talked to a couple of players already around what it was like for me. Whether or not they're thinking about it themselves, the fact that they're asking the question gives you the sense that maybe they're seeing some value in it.

"I definitely think there is (value), especially if you want to stay in the game as long as possible at a high level."

Taylor opted to take his sabbatical after helping the All Blacks make the 2023 World Cup final in France.

While the Canterbury Crusaders sorely missed him for most of their failed Super Rugby title defence in 2024, few could begrudge Taylor time out