As two-time World Cup Wallaby Scott Sio put pen to paper to extend his stay at Exeter, New Zealand Rugby is trying to bring back one of their stars from Japan.
Ever since Richie Mo’unga moved to the Japanese League One competition, new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has been trying to lure back his “quarterback”.
After the duo combined spectacularly during a seven-year relationship with the Crusaders, Robertson has made it obvious at every turn that he wants Mo’unga to be his No.10 for the All Blacks.
Indeed, Robertson visited the 29-year-old recently during a trip to Japan to check on his overseas All Blacks.
The new All Blacks coach then floated the idea of opening up New Zealand Rugby’s eligibility policy to allow him to pick Mo’unga, who signed a three-year deal with Toshiba ahead of last year’s World Cup, from overseas.
But with that out of the question, plans are afoot to try and lure Mo’unga back early.
“It’s no secret New Zealand Rugby were sorry to see Richie leave at the time he did and we would like him back,” NZR general manager of professional rugby Chris Lendrum told Rugby Direct.
“You can imagine we’ve been talking to Richie, and others, while they’re offshore.
“Plan A is to get him back on a full-time contract as soon as we can. That involves working with his agent.”
New All Blacks coach Scott Robertson wants his former Crusaders playmaker Richie Mo’unga back in New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Asked specifically about bringing Mo’unga home early, Lendrum said they respected he was currently contracted with a foreign club but added there was interest from both parties about the prospect of the No.10 adding to his 56 caps.
“That’s a contractual matter and we work through that with his agent and him,” Lendrum said.
“I know Richie would love to pull on the black jersey again. We have to see when that can be. Then you work back from there.
“The fundamental is a player is committed, wants to play for the All Blacks, wants to be back in New Zealand, otherwise we’re talking about picking All Blacks from offshore – which is not in the plans.
“We would love Richie home as soon as we can. There are contracts. We respect those. He’s employed by Toshiba currently but we’ll be involved in conversations to see what’s possible.”
The NZ Herald reports that Mo’unga currently does not have a get-out clause in his contract.
After having an embarrassment of riches in the No.10 jersey for decades, Robertson seemingly hasn’t been happy with his options currently in New Zealand.
While Beauden Barrett will return home soon from a stint in Japan, the Blues-bound playmaker will turn 33 later this month and dropped down the pecking order behind Mo’unga in recent years.
Damian McKenzie and Richie Mo’unga following their 2024 Super Rugby clash at FMG Stadium Waikato on April 29, 2023. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Damian McKenzie is committed to New Zealand rugby, but the jury is still out on whether the Chiefs playmaker is an international No.10 despite being one of the best utility players in the world.
Stephen Perofeta is contracted with the Blues too, but the 27-year-old has been sidelined for weeks and there’s still concerns whether he’s a long-term All Black in any case.
As for the Crusaders and Highlanders, the two Super Rugby franchises have battled for form in 2024 with several changes in the No.10 jersey so much so that Robertson recently asked All Blacks utility back David Havili to move to the main playmaking position.
Lendrum said it was fair enough Robertson was engaged with players from overseas given he is the All Blacks but added that the governing body wasn’t about to have an open-door policy.
“I imagine every day that goes by it’s coming closer but it’s still a long, long way in the distance,” Lendrum said of All Blacks selection from offshore.
“The granting of sabbaticals or exemptions from our eligibility criteria are ultimately decided by the New Zealand Rugby board. Razor has come in and said ‘I’d like everybody to keep an open mind’. He hasn’t said too much more than that.
“Quite rightly as the All Blacks head coach he’s engaged in discussions with us as management about how we think it looks, what the risks are around players generally. As an All Blacks coach, like we do, he has conversations with players when they’re offshore.”
He added: “Having our best players playing consistently in New Zealand has been a critical part of our success,” Lendrum said. “You move away from that only in small steps and very cautiously. You’ve seen a small evolution in our sabbatical rules over the last 10 to 12 years.
“In order to move to a situation where we picked players from across Super Rugby Pacific, which is something that has been talked about and it’s not something we’re fundamentally closed to, the conditions have to be right.
“You have to look around the competition and say everybody involved has quality coaching, is investing in high performance so there’s enough medical care, physio support and they’re all producing an equivalent amount of talent.
“You can’t have a situation where New Zealand subsidises the talent of the competition. You’d want Australians populating New Zealand teams that New Zealanders are interested in watching and raise the standard of New Zealand teams, and vice versa.
“It’s not as simple as turning a key on eligibility. We will be very careful with how we expand and adjust our eligibility rules because the success of our teams in black is bottom line for New Zealand rugby and the country as a whole.”
Former Wallabies prop Scott Sio has decided to extend his stay at Exeter Chiefs. (Photo by Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Wallabies stalwart Sio is unlikely to pull on the gold jersey anytime soon after re-signing with Exeter.
“I’m really excited to be staying on at Chiefs and to see what the future holds for this group,” Sio told the official Exeter website.
“The club wants to contend for trophies and be successful, which is something I want to be a part of and is a big reason for my re-signing.”
Sio played for Australia in the 2015 Rugby World Cup final and spent 12 seasons with ACT Brumbies in Canberra before making the switch to Exeter.
Despite former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones being given greater flexibility to pick from overseas in his return season last year, Rugby Australia is hoping to harden their stance by picking from predominantly home.
It means Sio is unlikely to add to his 69 caps despite Australia’s front-row stocks hardly being strong.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
What do the rules say, contracted to a NZ team. Ala SBW he can play 5 mins in an NPC game/warm up and he is sorted. How does BB qualify to play for the ABs in July.
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
Again your spin, not a view held by the people running the game in NZ, all of who are a lot closer to the game in NZ and with a lot more experience and knowledge than you. And comparing Fiji and Argentina to the ABs who are regarded as one of the very best sides in the world and who have largely dominated the sport for the past 100 years is silly.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
So DMac starting at 10 v Namibia is the same as starting 10 v Ireland, Argentina and South Africa. DMac couldn't even start 10 v Italy or Uruguay.
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
Nonsense. He is an experienced player who plays 10. The rest is your spin, based on what you think. DMac has played 10 all this season. He also plays 10 at NPC. He is slotted into 15 as he gives them the option of two playmakers and no-one else can provide that. If you think McMillan doesn’t rate him as a 10 you are off your rocker. Having an opinion is fine. Yours is simply incorrect.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Argentina seem to do fine as do Fiji prior to the drua. As soccer has shown the more players you get into a professional environment the better your national team becomes.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
He is an experienced player who plays 10 and 15. that is different to being a 10 and he like BB are moved to 15 while other 10s will not be moved because they are to important.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
And how many times over the last few season have the chiefs started DMac at 10 and then moved him out to 15 when subs come on. It he was the key cog he would not be moved but last season it was generally him moving to 15 mid game.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Jacko, how many test 10s has DMac played against this year in SR. How many of them are better than BB or RM who actually play against each other in the J1
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
So why do coaches disagree with you. Hansen, Foster and Joe all view him as substandard to RM and even BB at 10. Last WC he started at 10 v Namibia (a team to never win a WC game) and against Uruguay he started at 15. Games he was trusted to come on in he played 15 moving BB to 10. He made his debut in 2016 but was 2 years before he started his first test game at 10 in the third test v France. His next test start at 10 was Sept 2021, then July 2023, then the poor showing v OZ in Aug 2023. If he is so much better than the other 10s why does he have 5 test starts at 10 while BB had more starts at 10 his first 2 years of test rugby and RM made his debut a year after DMAC but started at 10 before he did.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Rules have changed as I have explained many times. Is BB currently contracted to an NZR team. Does he have to play for a SR or NPC team before he dons the black jersey. He was an OS contracted player so is he eligible for July tests this year and it would seem he is. What about players like Leicester who signed OS contracts but were still picked by the ABs. Rules aren't changing as quickly as OZ but in they are changing.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
It was said that Sam had a 1 year contract in France and could extent it by a year. He didn't want to play in France so NZ became the logical choice. If he was playing in NZ he would still be in the top 3 locks. Sam however has chosen to retire rather than play one more year. Are you saying that Razor didn't speak to SW about playing for the ABs if he signed to an NZ team or that he hasn't been telling NZR board that he needs RM in his team. plenty places quoting Razor on them and also NZR board members publicly saying they know Razor wants certain OS players but the board aren't changing the rules. If it was all rubbish they would say its all rubbish.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Agree that the Foster reign will be looked at much better that at the time of it. But that team was built on a much older team of people who have either retired or will be older when the next WC comes around. DMac is seen as the future 10 but he will be 32 next WC so probably only have 1 WC, he made his debut 8 years ago but has failed to break into the team. RM is one year older. Of the 23 who played the WC final who will be under 30, de Groot, Jordon, Taukei'aho, Williams, Papalii, so 5 out of 23. In the 2019 semi and 2023 final there were 12 players in the 23 that were the same. People like TJ and Reece who were injured would also have been there probably in 2023. I don't think there will be 12 from the 2023 team in the knockout game in 2027. Players like BB who will be 33 at the end of the month is being talked as the 10 or 15, its not 2 young 26 year olds fighting for the jersey like past rebuilds. At 9s you have TJ 32 and Christie 29, both understudies about to finally claim the starter spot. Roigard for all his promise has 5 caps, 2 starts v T2 teams and couldn't get past a player in Christie that few seem to like. I don't think NZ had the cupboard bare in a long time.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
True but if they are funding projects from 2024-2027 and then they cut it that T2 side then folds the project. That could be the P4s, MLR, SLAR. France they estimate made about €40m which they did with record crowds and lots of close markets who attended. If RA only make €40m that debt is not going to get cleared and you aren't going to see people taking €50 flights a few times from the UK and Ireland to fill out stadiums. There are less SA people in SA then in Western Europe. WXV started in 2023, Nation Cup that will include Japan, USA and Canada starts this year, P4 started in 2021 all off the back of Successful WCs in England, Japan and France. Its also no surprise we are seening more T2 Professional teams in WR funded leagues.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
From a rugby pass article in 2020 NPC wages were NZ$18-55K. in the same article they said the average ProD2 wage in 16/17 was over Nz$100k and Federal was about the same as the NPC. You lower wages by half then players will leave or just stop playing. Why play NPC for 3-4 months for $9k when you are giving up career chances because of only working 8-9 months in your job.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Turning NPC to a non professional competition. If it goes to non-professional you then have the jump from that to SRP will be like SS/HC to SRP. We will then start to see SRP players starting to sit out NPC seasons due to "injuries" as why risk your body when you aren't getting paid.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Dmac is a better field kicker, Better runner, Better passer, better decision maker and has less errors. Apart from that it sounds like you are understimating the ability of Dmac and for some reason fail to see his real abilities. He IS the most gifted 10 of any NZers still playing. You have a very weird discription of shreding a defence. Is not passing for a certain try shredding? RM has no maturity. RM CHOSE his path. I dont care if you think he is a Dan Carter. He left. Bye RM wont miss ya.RM has no maturity. He is a sooky player who signed with Japan and then demanded in the press that NZR change their selection policy to suit HIM and him alone. He is a bit Grugby tbh
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Sounds like you have a big man crush on an average player Lost focus I see.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Why did you rubbish only hate on Dmac for the AUs game. What a joke.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Facts mate... Semi finalists at WC.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Hodge man not eligible til spring tour mate