Latest news with #GreatestRivalry
1News
4 days ago
- Sport
- 1News
Star playmaker Richie Mo'unga confirms when he'll make his NZ return
Richie Mo'unga, New Zealand Rugby's most wanted man, has announced he will return from Japan to play for Canterbury next year and the Crusaders in 2027. Mo'unga, 31, who has played 57 Tests for the All Blacks, has agreed an 18-month deal that will take him to the Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027. Mo'unga's announcement is hugely significant for the fact it finally confirms his short-term future after he failed to come to an agreement with NZ Rugby to return this year, plus his willingness to return to Christchurch to wear the red and black of Canterbury and the Crusaders, two teams he has enjoyed a huge amount of success with. However, there is also significance in the fact Mo'unga, the All Blacks' first-choice No.10 when he left immediately after the 2023 World Cup final in France, will not be eligible to represent New Zealand until October next year, meaning he will miss the inaugural Nations Cup Tests here in July and "Greatest Rivalry" tour of South Africa in August and September. NZ Rugby confirmed he would not be eligible until the two Bledisloe Cup Tests in October, and potentially the Northern Hemisphere tour after that. ADVERTISEMENT 'The agreement sees Mo'unga return to Canterbury Rugby for the 2026 and 2027 Bunnings Warehouse NPC seasons, the Crusaders for the 2027 DHL Super Rugby Pacific season and become eligible for All Blacks selection from October 2026,' a NZ Rugby statement today revealed. It would strike as odd that Mo'unga, whom NZ Rugby have chased so hard, will potentially be running around the fields of Invercargill, Tauranga and Palmerston North while Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie and potentially Ruben Love do battle against the Boks and the likes of the Bulls and Stormers on an epic tour of South Africa. Several other questions immediately spring to mind regarding what is a unique contract – the first being why Mo'unga did not sign a longer one to take in the British and Irish Lions tour here which is scheduled for 2029, and the second being whether he could have negotiated an earlier start with the All Blacks had he done so to help get around NZ Rugby's byzantine eligiblity rules. Richie Mo'unga celebrates with the Super Rugby Pacific trophy after the Crusaders beat the Chiefs in Hamilton in 2023. (Source: Photosport) Another is that had he signed a longer-term deal, say to the end of 2029, he potentially could have built a sabbatical clause into it which would have allowed him to return to Toshiba, where he has been for the last two seasons and who he will represent again for the 2026-27 season. Such details will be known only to Mo'unga and his representatives and the contracting team at NZ Rugby, but after the initial delight his many supporters may feel at seeing the serial championship winner return to these shores, there will naturally be questions about his medium- and long-term goals. For now, though, Canterbury and the Crusaders will be overjoyed at the prospect of his return as there were some indications he could have been swayed by the prospect of playing for Moana Pasifika, although his Crusaders tattoo is a good indication as to where his loyalties lie. ADVERTISEMENT Mo'unga, who has played 109 matches and scored 1,230 points for the Crusaders, called time on his career with the franchise in 2023 after leading them to a seventh-successive title. As the Crusaders said in their statement, Mo'unga is one of the most influential players in Super Rugby history. 'The Crusaders have always been a huge part of my life – not just as a player, but as a person,' Mo'unga said in a statement. Richie Mo'unga on the move for Toshiba Brave Lupus in June. (Source: Photosport) "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.' As reported by 1News in January, Mo'unga declined the offer to return to New Zealand after the recent Japan League One season, preferring to honour his contract with the Brave Lupus. '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. ADVERTISEMENT Crusaders head coach Rob Penney, who recently agreed a one-year extension to his contract and so may not be in his current position in 2027, said: '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.' NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson said: 'We're really pleased to have Richie re-committing to New Zealand Rugby, the Crusaders and Canterbury Rugby. 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.'
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- 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.'
Daily Maverick
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Boks vs All Blacks Greatest Rivalry series set to change rugby's quadrennial narrative
The new series involving the Springboks and All Blacks will alter the shape of the game and change the way a four-year cycle is viewed. Test rugby has operated in four-year cycles for the better part of 40 years. Although annual tournaments such as the Rugby Championship and Six Nations are certainly valued by their respective communities, coaches often talk about these competitions as if they are stepping stones on a much longer journey that culminates at the World Cup. The home nations, of course, have held a different view of the Test calendar for more than a century. The quadrennial British & Irish Lions tour is on par with the World Cup and shapes the prevailing narrative in the northern hemisphere – as seen by the hype around the recent squad announcement for the tour to Australia. Everyone in the north is talking about coach Andy Farrell's selections and is wondering who might feature in the three Tests against the Wallabies, and indeed whether the Lions might win a series outright for the first time since 2013. Closer to home, the conversation is dominated by Rassie Erasmus's preparation for the Italy series in the short term, the Rugby Championship in the medium term and the 2027 World Cup – the latter representing a shot at an unprecedented hat-trick of global titles. Few if any are focused on South Africa and New Zealand's answer to the Lions series, which will be staged for the first time in 2026. Perhaps this has something to do with the fixtures and overall structure of the Greatest Rivalry series yet having to be confirmed, but make no mistake, this series will change the way we view a four-year cycle – and certainly how coaches and players prepare for one. Rassie already a step ahead Erasmus set out his stall in February 2024 when he selected a large training squad and targeted a third World Cup title in 2027. He neglected to mention that the world champions would have another major event to build towards, namely the first instalment of the Greatest Rivalry series. By the end of the 2024 Rugby Championship, rugby authorities on both sides of the Indian Ocean had confirmed that the groundbreaking quadrennial tour had received the green light. The first series would be staged in South Africa in 2026 and the second in New Zealand in 2030. In the immediate aftermath of their Freedom Cup victory against the All Blacks, Erasmus and captain Siya Kolisi spoke about the potential of an event that could rival a Lions series. Tour matches against the franchises, a three-Test series, as well as a one-off staged in the UK or the US… Who wouldn't want to be involved in that? The rarity of these tours will be a drawcard for fans and players alike. Top players would be lucky to feature in both tours over a period of eight years, given the threat of injuries and that international careers are not as long as they used to be. And if the Boks blow their chance of winning the series in 2026, they will have to wait until the next instalment for revenge. The obvious difference between the Greatest Rivalry and the Lions series is that the Boks and All Blacks will continue to meet in the intervening years, either in the Rugby Championship or at the World Cup. One can understand why there is an absence of hype at this stage, since it's hard for stakeholders in New Zealand and South Africa to look past the coming Freedom Cup series, which will play out in Auckland and Wellington in September. Erasmus's Boks have achieved a great deal over the past eight years, but it's worth noting that no South African side has won at Eden Park since 1937, and the All Blacks remain undefeated at the Auckland fortress in the professional era. But as was the case in 2024, when the All Blacks played back-to-back Tests in South Africa, the two-match tour to New Zealand will allow a narrative to build and develop. It should be a series to remember – the misfiring All Blacks also have a point to prove – and should offer further proof of the multi-Test concept. Getting answers for 2026 It's been three years since the two-game tour format was introduced, and it's fair to say that this change has breathed new life into the Rugby Championship. The two matches in New Zealand this year should receive due hype and attention, but they are, as mentioned before, essentially steps on a longer journey. Erasmus, Kolisi and the rest will go down with the greats if they break the Eden Park curse on 6 September, but with a view to the long term, the coach will want answers ahead of the 2026 Greatest Rivalry series and the 2027 World Cup. The one-off Test staged overseas will generate significant income for both unions, but the outcome of that fixture is unlikely to count towards the series result. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how Erasmus approaches that one-off and the three Tests in South Africa. Rotation, as the Bok boss has explained, may provide an opportunity for experimentation in the lead-up to big tournaments and series. When competing in the big games and playing taxing Tests back to back, rotation can provide different tactical options and mitigate fatigue. The Bok coaches made numerous changes throughout the 2023 World Cup playoffs and in the 2024 double-header against the All Blacks. Lessons taken from last year's Freedom Cup series, and the upcoming two-match epic in New Zealand, will certainly be carried through to the 2026 showpiece. With regard to personnel, Erasmus has made the point that some of the senior players who starred at the 2019 and 2023 tournaments won't feature at the 2027 World Cup. When he first made this statement in 2024, many assumed that he would axe a clutch of veterans sooner rather than later. And yet, most of the usual suspects were used – alongside a growing group of younger players – over the course of 2024, and they have been included in the alignment camps ahead of the 2025 Test season. Perhaps Erasmus believes that this experience will be essential when the Boks travel to New Zealand later this year. Perhaps he is already thinking about using these older players in the Greatest Rivalry series, even if the 2027 World Cup may be a bridge too far for certain individuals. Whatever the case, the 2026 series should shape the Boks' approach in 2025. Although every player is desperate to feature in the World Cup, a spot in the squad for a marquee series against South Africa's archrivals will be just as highly prized. Further into the future Beyond 2027, the schedule will be packed with more meaningful Tests than ever before. The inaugural Nations Championship will be staged in 2026 and subsequent editions will play out in 2028 and 2030. The Boks will tour New Zealand for the second edition of the Greatest Rivalry series in 2030, before shifting their focus to the 2031 World Cup in the US. Two years later, they will welcome the Lions to these shores. Considering what lies ahead, one can understand why Erasmus is working with such a large squad right now. The decorated Bok coach has one eye on the present and another on the future, an approach that should benefit South African rugby during the most competitive era in the game's history. DM This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
