FORMER Gloucester prop Greg Somerville has spoken of how difficult it was to turn down a return to the All Black front row ahead of next year's World Cup.

The influential forward chose new Super 15 franchise the Melbourne Rebels over a return to Canterbury Crusaders, which would have made him eligible for the World Cup in New Zealand next autumn.

Somerville was the most capped All Blacks prop until Tony Woodcock equalled his 66-Test record against the Wallabies at Etihad Stadium this morning, and he admitted it was difficult to let his former club down, especially after Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder tried to convince him to move back home.

"It was really heart-wrenching not to go back there," Somerville said. "They were really positive about me being part of it again.

"But I wanted to challenge myself in a new way and not try and find what I had before."

The 32-year-old left Gloucester a year early after signing a two-and-a-half year contract which should have kept him at Kingsholm until next summer.

He cited the difficulty of an unsettled family who wanted to be nearer home, before deciding to move to Australia instead of New Zealand.

The Rebels do not start pre- season training until October 1, when Somerville will link up with Gareth Delve, the former Gloucester skipper who also left the club at the end of the last campaign.

"It's going to be a heck of a challenge bringing the team together, bonding and then get everyone playing at a level you'll need to be competitive," Somerville said.

"There were a few long nights thinking about it but to hinge everything on that after being to two (World Cups), putting everything into them and it not working out.

"I didn't want to hang my hat on the whole thing."

Somerville's final game for New Zealand came with victory over Australia in Hong Kong back in 2008, after which he jumped on a plane to the West Country to start a new life.

He left as Tri-Nations and Super 14 champions, with the All Blacks and Crusaders respectively.

"I felt I managed to leave it on a really good note. Going back might have been taking a step back," he said.

Also there was also no guarantee of a starting role for the 32-year-old at the Crusaders, never mind an All Blacks recall, given the strength of the squad.

Somerville took particular satisfaction from Owen and Ben Franks establishing themselves as All Blacks after knowing them as youngsters, a mentoring role he filled with Gloucester props including Paul Doran-Jones, who went on to win his first England cap last season.

"I know the work ethic and time they've put in to becoming All Blacks over the last few years, it's great to see it paying off," he said.

Somerville was also encouraged by what he's seen of the All Blacks so far in 2010.

"To see the way they've played in the last couple of weeks has been great to watch," he said, before admitting it also made uncomfortable viewing.

"Something definitely still stirs when the boys run out. There's still a part of me that would love to be an All Black.

"The satisfaction they get from being out there and winning and representing your country is huge. You can't lose that in a hurry."