New Zealand's record-breaking try-scorer Doug Howlett says that he hasn't ruled out the possibility of a return to the All Blacks before the 2011 World Cup.

Howlett, who's in the second season of his three year contract with European champions Munster, left international rugby after last year's World Cup in France.

"There's a World Cup in 2011 in New Zealand which is a huge carrot for any rugby player," Howlett told ESPN's SportsCenter programme.

"I will re-assess closer to the time whether I feel I'm playing well enough to warrant a go at an All Blacks jersey."

Howlett would be 33 when the next World Cup is staged in his homeland. He added that not winning the sport's biggest tournament remains the greatest regret of his playing career.

"That's the only blemish, really," he said. "But that's sport. It's a World Cup and they don't come easily. I've had two go's at it now and unfortunately I haven't managed to get hold of it."

Despite scoring six tries and being one of his team's outstanding players of the 2007 World Cup group stages, Howlett missed New Zealand's shock quarter-final loss to France in Cardiff, surprisingly left out of the 22-man squad by Graham Henry.

But Howlett feels no ill will against the All Black coach who often polarises opinion in New Zealand.

"It was a disappointment as those games where everything is on the line are obviously the ones you want to play in," he said. "I felt that I was playing well but it came down to one decision and I supported that decision at the time."

Soon after New Zealand's exit at the 2007 World Cup, Howlett was arrested in London after a prank with friends got out of hand and he was accused of damaging two cars after a boozy evening near Heathrow Airport. He escaped criminal charges but says he regrets the incident.

"It wasn't a result of the World Cup as such," he said. "It was more of an end of an era for me as an All Black. It was a final farewell to teammates and I obviously got a little carried away and out of hand but it was a shame to finish my All Black career that way. What's done was done, I apologised and I've moved on."

Howlett says he and his young family have settled well in the Irish city of Cork and that he's relishing the new Heineken Cup campaign with Munster.

"I spent nine years as an All Black in New Zealand. We've always seen European rugby on TV and always thought of trying it out. The experience with Munster has been wonderful so far," he said.

Munster once hosted Christian Cullen, another flying New Zealand back, whose All Black record Howlett broke last year, scoring 49 tries compared to Cullen's 46.

Howlett says that he's proud of the record and hope that it will inspire emerging Rugby players within New Zealand to try to follow his footsteps.

"I distinctly remember meeting John Kirwan as a 10 year old boy. He was my favorite All Black winger and I've always thought that if get to that stage, I'll want to leave those kind of memories in kids' minds. It's especially important back home where it's such a big part of life."