
All Blacks' halfback crisis as Roigard is ruled out of Pumas Tests
Already facing a test of depth in the area due to back-up halfback Noah Hotham's high ankle sprain which will sideline him for most if not all of the competition, Roigard's injury will promote Cortez Ratima as the senior No.9 in the squad.
Finlay Christie would likely have been named in tomorrow's 36-player Rugby Championship squad announcement as cover anyway — now he almost certainly will, with head coach Scott Robertson forced to cast the net ever wider. Likely as a precaution, Christie was a late withdrawal from Tasman's game against Bay of Plenty this afternoon.
It may result in a call-up for the uncapped Kyle Preston, who represented Wellington in the NPC during the defending champions' loss to Canterbury yesterday and who played extremely well for the Crusaders this year.
An All Blacks statement released this afternoon said: "Roigard presented with pain in the foot following the conclusion of the July series and scans have confirmed the stress fracture. He will not travel to Argentina and his likely return to play will be assessed in two weeks."
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Recovery times from such injuries vary but usually take six to eight weeks.
That timeline would suggest Roigard would struggle to be fit for the two Tests against the Springboks at Eden Park on September 6 and a week later in Wellington.
The 24-year-old, who has played 12 Tests, has quickly became an influential player for the All Blacks in the wake of Aaron Smith's retirement due in large part to his running game.

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NZ Herald
an hour ago
- NZ Herald
Richie Mo'unga: All Blacks return is more complex than it seems
Richie Mo'unga returns to rugby in New Zealand from July next year. Photo Photosport The short-term nature of Mo'unga's commitment to New Zealand rugby has ruled him ineligible for an exemption to be fast-tracked straight into the All Blacks. While the All Blacks host three fixtures next July and then tour South Africa for six weeks in a series dubbed rugby's greatest rivalry, which includes four tests against the Springboks (one at a neutral venue likely to be Twickenham), Mo'unga will return from Japan to play provincial rugby with Canterbury. Had he signed a longer-term contract stretching beyond the 2027 World Cup, the NZ Rugby board would have signed off on him joining the All Blacks immediately. Three seasons in Japan, and a brief return home, leaves Mo'unga without claims to a long-service exemption. While many senior All Blacks enjoy lucrative sabbatical stints, these are granted for six months and alongside long-term commitments to not just the national team but Super Rugby. Allowing Mo'unga an exemption jarred against those criteria. The situation gives Mo'unga a maximum of 13 tests – and the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season with the Crusaders – to push his case to regain the starting All Blacks reins. Mo'unga will next be available for the two Bledisloe Cup tests in October 2026, before the All Blacks embark on what is expected to be the first Nations Championship (three tests in the northern hemisphere, plus the finals weekend). In the 2027 World Cup year, the All Blacks are scheduled for a full Rugby Championship campaign that will mirror this year's tournament (two tests in Argentina, two at home against the Springboks and two Bledisloe battles) before the likelihood of staging one warm-up fixture prior to travelling to Australia for the global showpiece. Mo'unga is unlikely to feature in all 13 of those tests. And, with Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie demanding game time, too, it's feasible Mo'unga's starting opportunities for the All Blacks before the World Cup will be limited to single digits. Is that enough time to regain the mantle he held at the last World Cup? Possibly, but his claims will also be affected by the All Blacks' progress, or lack of, between now and October 2026. While Mo'unga has led Toshiba to successive League One titles in Japan, the expectation, based on numerous All Blacks returning from the same competition, is he will need time to adjust to the reduced time and space after three years away from the test scene. Mo'unga, though, is Robertson's man. The pair formed a tight-knit relationship, with Robertson labelling Mo'unga his quarterback, as the Crusaders collected seven Super Rugby titles. At that level, they were seemingly unstoppable. Robertson and New Zealand Rugby did everything within their power to bring Mo'unga home by this stage but financial terms could not be reached with Toshiba to break his contract early. Richie Mo'unga (right) has worked closely with coach Scott Robertson in the past. Photo / Photosport Such courtship serves to highlight the value Robertson places on Mo'unga's playmaking qualities. Robertson has, this year at least, proven his capacity to make difficult calls by passing over Ethan Blackadder, David Havili, Dalton Papali'i and shifting Rieko Ioane from centre to the wing. But his diplomacy skills will now be tested, perhaps more than ever before, with Mo'unga's homecoming confirmed. In Mo'unga's absence, Barrett has established himself as the All Blacks' clear first-choice playmaker. Gone are the days of Barrett playing fullback and the All Blacks attempting to sell their two-pronged playmaker vision with Will Jordan now locked in his favoured backfield role. Barrett, unless he's injured, will guide the All Blacks in the majority of their headline tests before the next World Cup to strengthen his combination with starting halfback Cam Roigard. McKenzie will push his case for starting opportunities, too. Neither are about to willingly step aside, which leaves Robertson with a challenging scenario to manage, with others such as Ruben Love and Stephen Perofeta at risk of sliding down the pecking order. Fitting everyone into a 33-man World Cup squad that usually contains three playmakers won't be easy. Internal competition, the best competing against the best, strengthens the collective but all individuals ultimately want to start. However the plot lines play out, the All Blacks will benefit from Mo'unga's return. Howwever, his hit-and-run World Cup mission is a more complex win than it first appears. Liam Napier is a Senior Sports Journalist and Rugby Correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast.


Otago Daily Times
an hour ago
- Otago Daily Times
Mo'unga to return next year
Scott Robertson will finally get his beloved first five back. New Zealand Rugby has announced, after what feels like an age of protracted negotiations, that first five Richie Mo'unga has signed an 18-month deal to come home. Mo'unga will complete one more season, his third, in Japan before returning to New Zealand in July. There is a twist, though. Mo'unga, 31, will not be granted an immediate exemption to play for the All Blacks but will first be seen in the NPC with Canterbury before being allowed to be selected for the national team in October 2026. It means he will miss the new Nations Championship and the much-anticipated full tour of South Africa — the Greatest Rivalry, as it is being termed — but will be in place for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, after a season back with the Crusaders. ''My family and I have really enjoyed our time in Japan, and I'm looking forward to another season with Toshiba before we return home,'' Mo'unga said in a statement. ''I can't wait to pull on the red and black jersey again and represent the province that's given me so much.'' Mo'unga, arguably the greatest player in Super Rugby history, won seven titles and played 109 games for the Crusaders. He had to bide his time before fully being given the reigns with the All Blacks but he managed 56 test caps, scoring 464 tests, before he decided to cash in after the 2023 World Cup. That clearly dismayed Robertson, who made no secret of his desire to get his ''quarterback'' back in black. The All Blacks have no shortage of first five options — Beauden Barrett is the incumbent, Damian McKenzie a vastly experienced excitement machine and Ruben Love a 10/15 hybrid — but there is no doubt Mo'unga instantly becomes the favourite to start in the position at the next World Cup. 'We're really pleased to have Richie re-committing to New Zealand Rugby, the Crusaders and Canterbury,'' NZR chief executive Mark Robinson said. ''He's a proven talent with a strong track record of performing on the biggest stages. His experience and leadership will be a tremendous asset in the environments he joins on his return to New Zealand.' Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge said Mo'unga's return was a special moment for the club and its supporters. 'The word 'care' is thrown around a lot in this place, but the care Richie has for this club and this team is second to none,'' Mansbridge said. ''He has this gift of bringing out the best in those around him and we can't wait to have him back here in 2027.'

RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Former All Blacks star Richie Mo'unga returning to NZ and Crusaders
Richie Mo'unga will return to New Zealand rugby in time for the 2027 World Cup. Photo: Federico Pestellini Former All Blacks first-five Richie Mo'unga is heading home. Mo'unga has signed with New Zealand Rugby, the Crusaders and Canterbury for 18 months from July 2026 to December 2027, putting him in the selection frame for the All Blacks for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. The 31-year-old, who has played 56 tests since making his All Blacks debut in 2017, will play for the Crusaders for the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season and Canterbury for the 2026 and 2027 NPC seasons. He will be available for All Blacks selection from October 2026. Mo'unga could battle it out with the likes of Beauden Barrett for the All Blacks first-five jersey. Photo: John Davidson / Mo'unga was a key player of the side for a number of years and played a pivotal role in the All Blacks run to the 2023 World Cup final in France, which they lost by just one point to South Africa. He moved to Japan in 2024 to play for Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo. "The Crusaders have always been a huge part of my life - not just as a player, but as a person," Mo'unga said. "I can't wait to return in 2027 and continue to build on the legacy of the franchise. I'm really looking forward to reconnecting with the fans and contributing to the environment both on and off the field." Mo'unga still has one more season in Japan before returns to Aotearoa. "I've grown a lot during my time in Japan with Toshiba, both on and off the field. It's been an incredible experience with my family that I'll always be grateful for, and I'm really excited for one more season with them," he said. Scott Robertson and Richie Mo'unga Photo: PHOTOSPORT Mo'unga has played 109 games for the Crusaders and head coach Rob Penney said his homecoming is a massive boost for the champions. "Richie's connection to this club runs deep and he is a great Crusader man. We're really blessed with the talent that we have in the Crusaders and having Richie back will not only enhance the team and have a positive influence over the group, but it will also ensure his legacy lives on long after he has departed." Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge said Mo'unga will improve the team. "The word care is thrown around a lot in this place, but the care Richie has for this club and this team is second to none. He has this gift of bringing out the best in those around him and we can't wait to have him back here in 2027." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.