Liam Squire is the latest All Blacks player to confirm he is leaving New Zealand after this year’s Rugby World Cup, with the loose forward saying on Monday he has agreed to join Japanese club NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.
The 27-year-old, who has signed a two-year contract, had been expected to sign with a Japanese club after battling a series of niggling injuries that curtailed his appearances for the All Blacks and Highlanders in Super Rugby.
When fit, Squire has been the All Blacks first-choice blindside flanker since 2017, getting the nod ahead of two-time World Cup winner Jerome Kaino.
“It seems like the right time to go,” Squire said in a Highlanders’ statement on Monday.
“I have really loved my time in New Zealand … and in particular down here with the Highlanders, it’s a club that gave me a chance and I appreciate the support I have had.”
Squire’s Highlanders teammate Ben Smith (Pau) as well as Hurricanes winger Nehe Milner-Skudder (Toulon) and Crusaders prop Owen Franks (Northampton) have already confirmed they will leave New Zealand after the September 20 to November 2 World Cup in Japan.
All Blacks captain Kieran Read has also said he would be leaving New Zealand but has not confirmed his destination, while Jordan Taufua (Leicester), Matt Proctor (Northampton) and Jeff Toomaga-Allen (Wasps) are also heading offshore.
Coach Steve Hansen has also said he is stepping down after the World Cup.
Lara
Guest
Shows you how tough it is at the top level .He is still young enough to come back into the ABs . Good luck to him.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Just as you acquired Billy and Mako V, Manu, the very reason England arent now so helpless. Sure, I’ll go with that, but the players you mention arent making a difference. Yours? The ENTIRE reason the side is winning. Go figure. England will not win without at least two of the three. Because theyre unable to produce players of that calibre from England born players. Once again, you trip over your on tongue. Perhaps leave it while youre way, way behind. Anyway, mods wont. Point is well made. I’m out of this one. Good luck v Wales. I hope they dont muck it up under all that…what is it…’tension!. wooooooh..scared.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Surely, ‘acquiring’ Laulala, Tu’ungafasi, Frizzel, Fifita, and Naholo has helped fill those gaps?
Jacko
Guest
Tman I agree that they would be in the ABs squads but are the squads really any weaker by having Mounga, Ioane, big Karl and Barrett replacing those who have left? To me Cruden was the biggest loss....I never really rated Sopounga as his genuine replacement but Mounga looks like he will soon be ready and if not someone else will. Wingers are not in shortage in NZ and as someone leaves someone else steps in to take their place....im quite excited to see the next gen ABs develop
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I feel in the short term NZ has been able to replace them. As the flow of that level of player increases, the flow of developing talent won’t be able to replace it over time. The issue isn’t Luatua. It’s Luatua, then followed by Squire AND Taufua. I think now every player you leave equals more than one player leaving in the future. NZ is probably now reaching where Aus and SA were around 2013-14 as player started to regularly leave in their prime all of a sudden, not their 30s.
taylorman
Roar Guru
I think in the short term it is already suffering. Cruden, Piutau, Faumuina and Luatua would be in the 23 if they were here or close to it, regardless of their currnt northern form. When they left they were the reason for such a strong bench. Without having players of that calibre when others go down it stretches us, and has already.
CUW
Roar Rookie
played for Samoa under 20 tean in 2013 France
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
In the short term the test team won't. In the long term it may just as you erode the fringe players.
Old Bugger
Guest
The only deadline is how big is the offer and how quickly, can the player accept otherwise, it really is a free-for-all approach between the clubs and the players. Having said that - all the best to LS and perhaps, we see you back in NZ in 2022-2023??
Bluesfan
Born Samoa - educated @ De La Salle College in Auckland. And since 2014 representing Auckland, then the Blues...
CUW
Roar Rookie
@ taylorman I think NZ test team will not suffer - but in the long term super rugger definitely will. this week Crusaders lost a prop - and now they are looking for replacement. Chiefs lost ( short term ) all fly halves and then had to slot in a center - discarded by Blues. Hurricanes fly half also looked badly injured - who will replace him ? i have said for many years that super rugger shud have a large squad like they do in Europe ( some clubs ) like 40 guys at least if 45 is hard. the attrition rate is high and if u dont have enuf players idle then replacements tend to be hard to come by.
CUW
Roar Rookie
long time to go :D im curios - is there a deadline for these signings - like in European football? footy has the january window and then end of season window. in rugger it seems open season .... but thenn who knows - Julian Savea may come back coz Murad told him to go back home :D
CUW
Roar Rookie
yes and SAMOA shud pick him coz NZ will not for ever. he is very quick - ran down Bridge. onlything - like many Blues he is perceptible to the up and down game , inside a game ...
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yeah its just getting absurd. The conveyer belt to the north is worse than ever. The incoming coach will be well aware of the need to pick overseas players and Hansen is leaving at a time its not impacted him badly. Its an issue, and is causing a drop off in dominance at the top, but after this year the drop off will be impossible to not seek player return. Somethings gonna gove and you can bet the north arent going to try and grow their own. Too hard.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yep. Australia and SA have reached this tipping point earlier. A stronger NZ rugby culture and years of investment into M10 Cup has helped stave this off but the tipping point comes when the wage disparity is too much. It's not the long term internationals you lose. They don't earn too much more overseas. It's your fringe internationals and good Super Rugby players that you lose. And that erodes the quality of your Super Rugby teams.
Peter Kelly
Guest
I think the black jersey is enough to keep the best younger players in NZ, there worth is significantly increased with AB caps in there CV. Some players will take 2 year overseas contracts straight after WCs with the ability to return to NZ in time for next WC selection cycles. Top ABs are on good money for NZ living costs, with sabaticals mid career plus a top up in there 30s they can achieve high living standards post career. There will always be some who will chase the money over glory. I don't think most top sport people are in it for the money when young, this becomes a need as they see there career nearer the end than the beginning. The day we select from off-shore is the day the AB demise really begins. We cannot compete with overseas money, only the prestige of being an All Black is our only protection to being completely cleaned out.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Melani Nanai is Samoan ....
Bluesfan
Would be interesting to do a graph on the average player in the NZ Super conference - would expect it to be heading Southwards since the start of the comp. Reality is that NZ's "rugby depth" is being deeply mined by the Nth and Japan - we can't do anything about it and a tipping point will come when the AB's will have to select off shore. That will be a dark and sad day but it's hard to see how it can-not happen when NZ is losing players and being hollowed out e.g. Melani Nani from the Blues just announced he has signed with an English club and sure there are more to come.
Pilferer
Roar Rookie
This makes me feel that if Razor has another strong season he needs to be in the new all black set up .
Peter Kelly
Guest
NZs rugby depth will shine through, often the media site ABs losing talent only for a emerging player to step up to the opportunity. A lot leaving will also not make next WC so 2020 a good a time as any to start the regeneration with a new coach, new captain and some new talent. NZ under 20s program has some great talent on offer.