The Highlanders winger Hosea Gear says he wasn't ready to give up on his All Blacks dream and being called into training camp brings him one step closer to playing his way back into a black jersey.
Gear and the Chiefs hooker Hikawera Elliot have been named as replacements for the injured Keven Mealamu and Cory Jane to attend the second All Blacks training camp this week in Wellington.
The 28-year-old says his All Blacks ambitions are far from complete one and says turning down a lucrative deal in Japan was ultimately an easy decision.
The All Blacks 30-man squad for the June test series against Ireland will be named in Auckland next Sunday.
