Ben Smith set for four-month sabbatical after Bledisloe cup contests

All Blacks vice-captain Ben Smith has confirmed that he will be taking a four-month sabbatical following the upcoming back to back Rugby Championship clashes against Australia next month.

The 31-year-old's break from the game was already a part of the negotiation of the contract extension that he signed earlier this year and now follows the precedent set by his former teammates Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, who took a similar break before the 2015 World Cup.

The fullback has played 62 Tests for New Zealand after making his debut in 2009 and has amassed 135 points in it.

The news was confirmed by Smith's agent Warren Alcock., who revealed that the decision of the Highlanders star comes with the 2019 World Cup in mind.

"Contractually he's on sabbatical now," his agent Alcock told the New Zealand Herald.

"He has decided to make himself available for the two Bledisloe games because he has missed some rugby this year.

"We built in quite a significant sabbatical for him because to get him through to 2019 we felt that's what he was going to need physically and mentally."

Smith was part of the New Zealand in the recently concluded series against British and Irish Lions but was ruled out of the final two games due to an ear problem.

"What has changed is he was injured and had a reasonable break out of Super Rugby and missed a couple of Lions games so he's reassessed things and decided he was keen to be available for the next two games and then he'll take his sabbatical," added Alcock.