All Blacks and Crusaders captain Richie McCaw will miss the opening rounds of the Super 14 in 2010 rather than exercising the "sabbatical clause" in his NZRU contract which could have seen him missing the whole Super 14 series.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder said on the weekend that the rest will give McCaw the "last real opportunity" for an extended break before the 2011 World Cup.
After the All Blacks Northern Hemisphere tour McCaw will take an extended break and then will rejoin the Crusaders for the start of the Super14 - they play the Highlanders in Christchurch on February 13 - but McCaw will not be considered for selection until round four when the Crusaders play the Blues - March the 6th.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder said this was not a cottonwool case and that he and McCaw have talked about it since the beginning of the year.
"Richie's actually got a sabbatical clause in his contract, so he's got the right to take the whole Super Rugby off," Blackadder told the NZ Herald.
"To his credit he doesn't want to do that. He wants to play."
McCaw is not the only All Black who will be taking time out as Mils Muliaina of the Chiefs has also opted to sit out the first three rounds of the 2010 Super Rugby so he will miss matches in Durban, Johannesburg and Perth.
Ali Williams is currently enjoying extended time off before joining the Blues next year.
"(Richie) recognises that he really needs to look after himself. On reflection, I think it's a really positive thing." said Blackadder.
"He doesn't want extended time off, he wants to play but he needs that first three weeks to make sure he is fit and is raring to go," he added.
"He's not skiving off anywhere, he will be with us for the duration of the campaign, he will train alongside the team, he just will not be available to play until March."
There was no suggestion McCaw was nursing injuries that might need attention, rather Blackadder said it was more a case of freshening up mentally.
"I think feeling mentally fresh is as important as being physically fresh. He's just such a massive contributor."
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