A DEFINING weekend of Air New Zealand Cup fixtures has resulted in mixed fortunes for Worcester's All Black contingent, Rico Gear, Greg Rawlinson and Sam Tuitupou, ahead of the quarter-finals.

North Harbour skipper Rawlinson led his side to a narrow 19-17 victory over Southland but Harbour failed to score the four tries they needed to secure a spot in the top eight.

They were eliminated from the competition after Taranaki's comfortable win against Counties Manukau.

The South African-born lock, capped four times by the All Blacks, is bitterly disappointed to have ended his domestic career in New Zealand on a losing note but has already switched his attention to a new career in the Guinness Premiership.

"I am leaving New Zealand on October 22 for a well-earned holiday and I'll be arriving at Worcester on November 19," said 29-year-old Rawlinson.

"I want to help Worcester win trophies. To play in the Premiership and the Heineken Cup in the northern hemisphere for the first time is something I have dreamed about."

If Rawlinson was the biggest loser out of Warriors' new signings, Auckland captain Sam Tuitupou was undoubtedly the winner.

The 25-year-old, who played 10 Tests between 2004 and 2006, led his team to a thrilling 26-15 away win over Rico Gear's Canterbury in Christchurch on Saturday morning in his 500th match.

Auckland's win secured top position on the Air New Zealand Cup ladder, as well as the Ranfurly Shield, the most prestigious trophy in New Zealand domestic rugby, and home advantage against eighth-placed Taranaki in Saturday's first quarter-final.

Had he chosen to remain in New Zealand, Tuitupou would have been the logical choice to replace Aaron Mauger and Luke McAlister in the All Blacks set-up after the World Cup.

But the dynamic midfielder says he has no regrets about his decision to join Worcester this season.

"Not at all, I have no regrets," Tuitupou said. "For me, it was time to move on with my family. I have four kids under three and we felt this was the right thing to do.

"I have heard in the UK that the way the Premiership works means you get to be at home more and get a bit more family time."

Tuitupou has not ruled out a return to New Zealand at the end of his Warriors contract to put him in contention for the 2011 World Cup on home soil but at this stage he remains non-committal.

"I don't really know what I will do," he added. "I don't know what will happen. We'll just have to wait and see."

Second-placed Canterbury, including Worcester-bound Gear, will meet seventh-placed Otago in the other quarter-final in Christchurch on Saturday. The semi-finals are scheduled for October 12 and 13 with the Air New Zealand Cup final on October 20.

Tuitupou has confirmed he is leaving New Zealand on October 28 but Gear won't announce his departure date until the conclusion of Canterbury's Air New Zealand Cup campaign.