Byron Kelleher: Back in black? Photo: Michael Paler

Stade Toulousain star Byron Kelleher is on the comeback trail after a five-week absence with a knee injury – but maybe not just at club level.

The former All Black scrum-half - who has been in the news this week after suggesting the French national side is being hindered by an overcrowded domestic fixture list - hinted he is considering an international playing return with New Zealand.

Kelleher, 32, quit the All Blacks after winning 59 caps to come to France at the end of the last Rugby World Cup, in 2007.

Since then he has become a hugely popular figure throughout France and even won Top 14’s Player of the Year in his debut season.

He is settled and happy in France, even professing a desire to stay in the country beyond his playing career, but clearly the pain of failing to lift the Rugby World Cup continues to gnaw away.

This week he admitted the prospect of pulling on the famous black shirt in front of his home supporters in 2011 was tickling his fancy.

“Even if I said that playing for the All Black was finished after the last World Cup, today playing the 2011 World Cup in my country could be a possibility,” he admitted to AFP.

“I’ve played three World Cups and I enjoyed each single one, no matter the result. It’s possible, but I have not spoken too much with anybody for the moment. Let’s say that it could be a possibility.”

Stade Toulousain’s continuing quest for improvement was highlighted again this week with confirmation the Top 14 leaders – and defending champions – plan to open a state of the art training centre in time for the 2011/12 season.

The 1000m2 building will boast a gym, a cardio room, medical facilities, video rooms, a hammam and a spa therapy room. The decision to go ahead followed a recent fact-finding trip to New Zealand’s Waikato Chiefs – attended by Kelleher and club coach Guy Noves, among others.

Meanwhile, former England Dan Luger has encouraged Jonny Wilkinson to come and play in France.

Luger, who is currently coaching at Nice following playing spells with Toulon and Perpignan, said playing in France would enhance Wilkinson as a player.

               

“The French do things differently, with less emphasis on just weights and more on skills. People say it might be a problem for England selection, but the players will still be on show in the Heineken Cup,” he told The Sun.

“French clubs won’t hold players back either – they want English players to play for their country. They signed international players for their calibre at that level, and they recognise it’s in their interests to promote them.

“Rugby means so much in the south of France, too. Normally you’d be ignored as an Englishman there, but when you play rugby they love you,” he said.

And Luger, 34, revealed he had been contacted by English players seeking his advice about crossing the Channel.

“Other players who have featured for England in the last couple of years have asked me about playing over here. Of course I recommend it,” he added.

Wilkinson remains a summer target for Bayonne, Toulon and Racing Metro, but his current employers insist no French clubs have yet approached the Newcastle Falcons about signing him.

“Until something is in writing in front of me I expect to have Jonny playing again in three weeks and for him to be here next season,” said Falcons coach Steve Bates.

“Jonny has another year on his contract and, while it is for other people to decide, I am working on the basis of things remaining as they are.”

That last sentence appeared to be the giveaway that Wilkinson may still walk away, especially with Newcastle keen to trim their wage bill.

Elsewhere, French legend Serge Blanco is recovering after minor heart surgery earlier in the week. The Biarritz president had stents put in his arteries (to open them up) following an acute coronary syndrome on Sunday.

“Serge Blanco was hospitalised on as a precaution on Sunday night and had what I would call a standard operation on Monday,” said former club president Marcel Martin.  “It wasn’t a heart attack, properly speaking,” Martin told AFP.

Blanco, 50, won 93 caps for France and captained the national team at the 1991 Rugby World Cup. He is still France’s record try-scorer, with 38.