Olympic gold medal lure for Benji Marshall to rugby union

THE man trying to lure Benji Marshall to NZ rugby believes he could play for the All Blacks in the 2015 World Cup and Sevens at the 2016 Olympics.

THE man trying to lure Benji Marshall to New Zealand rugby believes the Tigers star and Sonny Bill Williams will be playing together for the All Blacks in the 2015 World Cup and Sevens at the 2016 Olympics.

Sir John Kirwan, coach of the Auckland Blues, will fly to Sydney on Sunday to sit down with Marshall for the first time and has predicted a rapid rise for the rugby-bound playmaker.

"I can totally see Benji and Sonny Bill playing together for the All Blacks, I reckon they will play in the World Cup and then play in the Sevens at the Olympics," Kirwan told The Daily Telegraph on Friday.

"I would not be pursuing Benji if I felt he couldn't, part of our philosophy at the Blues is to create great All Blacks."

Marshall missed out on playing in the pinnacle of rugby league, the State of Origin, but that pales in comparison with a chance to win an Olympic gold medal in Rio de Janeiro.

Even the potential to be involved in New Zealand's defence of the World Cup in England would be an incredible feat for a 28-year-old player who has not played the game since he was 16.

Benji Marshall

But the spectacular combination of Marshall and Williams, both once-in-a-generation NRL players, in a Sevens team is a wildly exciting prospect for Brazil, where Sevens makes its debut as an Olympic sport.

Williams, playing with the Roosters, is expected to return to New Zealand rugby for the World Cup, and an Olympic medal is sure to be used as a lure entice him him to stay, before potentially taking up a full-time boxing career.

Marshall is being pursued by the Blues and Australian franchises NSW Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels.

While his move has been panned by some given his age and lack of experience in top level rugby, Kirwan countered: "There are players I call X-factor players, they are a little bit different.

"They have incredible vision for the game, and back that up with skill and excitement, and also performance under intense pressure, with the responsibility of carrying a team on their shoulders.

"They are traits you can't actually coach.

"Sometimes a change really re-motivates you and gives you a new lease of life.

"Benji needs a change, he needs a re-spark."

If Marshall signs with the Blues, Kirwan wants him to take time out immediately after the Tigers' season, before potentially playing for the Barbarians (November 12 vs Combined Services in Plymouth and November 28 vs Fiji at Twickenham), then joining his team for pre-season training.

"But if he decides to sign with the Waratahs, I will give him my full blessing," Kirwan said. "This is not about us getting his services, this is about getting the right decision for Benji."