Meeuws pulls out of All Black tour

New Zealand prop Kees Meeuws has ruled himself out of the All Blacks tour to Europe in November.

The 30-year-old prop has played 20 Tests in less than two years, including two tours to the UK and the 2003 Rugby World Cup, and has decided he needs to take a breather.

"I basically just need a rest to get my body right. I've been going back to back for three years now and I'm just ruling myself out," he told allblacks.com.

Meeuws added that a rest will be just what the body ordered because of the "big year" ahead which includes the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.

Meeuws has been linked with a move to France, but he said for now he is concentrating on his NPC commitments with Auckland.

All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen now has to look at who can replace Meeuws on the coming tour to play Italy, Wales, France and the Barbarians.

"There's a hole there now we have to replace," said Hansen.

"It means guys like Tony Woodcock and Greg Somerville who have been playing loosehead as back-up to Kees have to step up and fill the void.

"Any other promising looseheads we've got need to hurry up in their development because hes certainly been our void at scrum time and lifting in the line-out."