- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Former All Blacks halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow says he would be keen to hear from Eddie Jones about a switch to the Wallabies, but accepts it’s looking increasingly unlikely.
Australian born Kerr-Barlow, who plays in France with La Rochelle, would qualify for the Wallabies after recent eligibility changes.
He was sounded out by former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie but the case has gone cold since Jones took over.
Jones invited seven overseas-based players to join his recent first camp with Wallabies hopefuls via Zoom but Kerr-Barlow wasn’t one of them.
“Probably not going to happen, I don’t think. You never know, but that is the impression I get. So, nothing for the moment there,” Kerr-Barlow told Rugby Pass.
Kerr-Barlow was capped 29 times for the All Blacks and was a member of the team that won the 2015 World Cup.
“If they give me a call, I definitely won’t hang up,” Kerr-Barlow said, while suggesting Rugby Pass in their initial story had blown the matter out of proportion.
“I was happy to be available, it’s where I grew up for a long period of time and where I was born. That is all I meant,”he said.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow. (Photo by Mark Nolan-Pool/Getty Images)
A first ever official All Blacks Test in Fiji is nearing reality.
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson told The Breakdown that negotiations were edging towards All Blacks playing in the islands.
“We’re locked in to play one in July next year at home,” said Robinson when asked about the prospect of more Tests against Fiji.
“We’ve got England here for the first two games in the July series, and one against Fiji. And we’re working on the possibility of going back and reciprocating and playing in Fiji which would be an amazing occasion.
“But there’s a bit of work to go before we can make any more formal announcements there.”
There are governance isues within the FRU that need to be resol;ved by World Rugby, while the calndar is another obstacle.
“Regulation 9 has three weeks in July, so it would involve us playing outside of the regulation window which we’re happy to look at,”said Robinson.
“Then there are a number of things our teams are working on as relates to player assembly, facilities, tour agreements, and there’s a bit of change going on at the Fiji Rugby Union around governance structures. We have to let that settle down a bit, then we’ll commence that work.”
The All Blacks have never played an official Test match in Fiji but did play games against the national team in 1974, 1980 and 1984 that were not given full international status.
One motivation for the Test would be to help Fiji get up to speed for potential inclusion in the proposed Nations Championship which would see the leading six nations from the south join with the same number in the north for an unofficial world league held every two years.
He said work was progressing on that competition.
Fiji and Japan are the leading contenders to join New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and Australia.
NZ Rugby last week signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan to strengthen their relationship.
“It needs six teams out of the southern hemisphere to be played every two years, hopefully from 2026, and we’re making good progress on that,” Robinson said.
“There will be a process to decide who the two teams joining the current SANZAAR partners are, but certainly Fiji and Japan have been talked about a lot.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.