Dagg not retiring, still hopeful of World Cup ticket

Israel Dagg - Cropped

All Blacks full-back Israel Dagg remains hopeful of an 11th-hour call-up to the Rugby World Cup, after being left out of Steve Hansen's 31-man squad.

Dagg, who has been capped 49 times, was one of the notable omissions for the Cup holders, having playing all 80 minutes in New Zealand's 8-7 win over France in Auckland to seal the trophy on home soil four years ago.

The writing was on the wall for the 27-year-old, somewhat, having been withdrawn during their Rugby Championship Test against the Springboks, and was unsighted in the two Bledisloe Cup Tests.

Dagg, though, said he was holding on to faint hope of getting a re-call due to injury, and will look to put his best foot forward in the ITM Cup.

"I've been disappointed, you always want to be in the World Cup All Blacks squad, but what's happened has happened," he told reporters after meeting with Hansen on Thursday.

"For me it's just to move on and go back to Hawke's Bay and have a good couple of weeks and see what happens.

"You never know, I could be over there in a couple of weeks, I've got to play like I'm still going to be involved."

Dagg also moved to clarify his tweet following the news of his omission from the squad, in which he said: "It's been a hell of a journey", spreading retirement rumours.

"I know I'm only 27, so it's not over," Dagg said. 

"I just have to work hard and hopefully I'll be back again. We had a good talk. 

"I'm not going go into detail about it, but we had a good yarn and he's still a friend and still my coach. 

"It was good to have a yarn and have a good chat with all the selectors."

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