All Blacks and Chiefs star Damian McKenzie is looking on the bright side over his rugby future.

McKenzie's hopes of Rugby World Cup glory were dashed earlier this year when he ruptured the ACL in his right knee in a Super Rugby game against the Blues.

It meant surgery and a six to nine month long recovery, ruling him out of September's tournament.

However, speaking to Jamie Mackay at Fieldays, McKenzie is not letting this injury get him down. 

"Time's on my side a little bit, so I hopefully have a few more years in the game, and you see it from a different perspective where a lot of people are in a lot worse situation than I am."

He says the first weeks were tough, but he is recovering well and hopes to return to the sport next year.

View this post on Instagram

Surgery all done ✔️ A bit of a different challenge to overcome this year rather than the one I was hoping for. Looking forward to accomplishing little goals day by day and coming back even better next year. A big thanks to everyone for their kind messages of support through this time. Rehab life... Let’s get it 🤘🏻

A post shared by Damian Mckenzie (@damianmckenzie_) on May 7, 2019 at 12:26am PDT

Asked about the high profile contracts that have been signed recently, McKenzie says he does not think there will be one on the cards for him for a while. 

"I'm still sticking around Hamilton for the next two years and looking forward to that, so we'll see what happens."

His options are wide open: McKenzie grew up on a farm in Southland, and says he is open to moving back and running it one day. 

"I'd have to upskill myself before that happens, but we'll see what comes about it, but I won't rule it out."