SHANE Howarth is quitting Newport this summer to return home to New Zealand - a year earlier than expected.

Howarth, who broke the Newport points scoring record the season before last when he ended up with 411 points, has decided not to wait to see whether he earns a contract with the Gwent team next season if provincial rugby does materialise.

Instead he has been given permission to leave his Newport employment a year early. Howarth intends packing his bags and returning to New Zealand for good at the end of the season and may take up a post in coaching.

He has spent four years with Newport, captaining them initially when the 1999 World Cup was over after club benefactor Tony Brown swooped to sign him from under the noses of Cardiff.

Newport remained his bulwark after his international career came to an abrupt halt after he won 19 caps.

In what became known as the grannygate affair, Howarth was unable to produce documentary evidence of his Welsh qualification.

He was pilloried by certain sections of the media and rapidly became disillusioned but Wales' loss quickly became Newport's gain and he will be missed.