Super Rugby: Bateman puts family ahead of ambition

Tim Bateman has made what he's labelled a no brainer decision to leave New Zealand rugby.

The Hurricanes second-five is taking his family offshore at the end of the Super Rugby season to get his wife proper treatment for multiple sclerosis.

Bateman says MS treatment was available in a number of places, but he's decided to return the Coca Cola club in Fukuoka, where he played in 2011.

"Literally about a hundred metres from where we live, the lead specialist in MS in Japan is there. And they've said to us that she'll be really well looked after."

He says it was a really tough decision, because they're leaving their support network behind.

"Everything you read about MS, is treatment early is very important. So we've decided to go with that."

The second-five says he'll have more time to help his wife in Japan.

"We don't travel anywhere near as much. It's 14 games a season, six of those are away games, and you're only away for pone night rather than two."

Bateman's signed a two-year deal with Coca Cola and says he'd like to return for the 2016 Super Rugby season, if he can - providing the treatment for multiple sclerosis has improved in New Zealand.

"If I miss one Super Rugby season ideally. But as I say the treatment's got to be available for her here and it's got to tick those boxes first."

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Super Rugby: Bateman puts family ahead of ambition