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All Blacks No 8 Hoskins Sotutu re-commits to New Zealand Rugby

(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

All Blacks No 8 Hoskins Sotutu will remain in New Zealand for the foreseeable future, committing his services to the Blues and New Zealand Rugby [NZR] until 2024.

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News of Sotutu’s two-year contract extension comes as the powerful 23-year-old prepares with the All Blacks ahead of their three-test series against Ireland, which kicks-off on Saturday.

Although he hasn’t been named to feature in the first test, the 10-test star is expected to take part in some capacity over the coming weeks on the back of a standout Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

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Helping guide the Blues to a runner-up finish, Sotutu found back himself in top form for the first time since his breakout season two years ago, when he starred for the Auckland-based franchise and earned his first cap for the All Blacks.

What followed was a quiet 2021 campaign in which he played in only five of New Zealand’s 15 tests as he struggled to break into the national team’s match day side.

Sotutu’s fortunes turned this year, though, as he caught the eye throughout Super Rugby Pacific as his devastating form won him selection in the All Blacks squad for a third year running despite strong competition from elsewhere around the country.

With his previous contract set to expire this year, the Blues subsequently moved to lock Sotutu in for the next few years in a deal that the man in question said was easy to agree to.

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“I just enjoy coming to work every day,” Sotutu, a former New Zealand Schools and New Zealand U20 representative who father Waisake played 12 tests for Fiji, said in a statement released on Friday.

“There’s a great feeling in the club. We are lucky to have such great coaches and it’s awesome to be part of the Blues family.”

Blues head coach Leon MacDonald, meanwhile, is optimistic about Sotutu’s future at the Blues after having overseen his development since his Super Rugby debut three years ago.

Now with 37 Blues caps to his name, MacDonald is hopeful that Sotutu can go on to realise his world-class potential.

“Hoskins has all the skills and attributes to become one of the game’s best No 8s. He has size, speed and supreme skills,” MacDonald said.

“Hoskins continues to amaze us with his skillset. He is a good young man and a dedicated athlete. The rugby world could be at his feet if he can realise all of his talents.”

The retention of Sotutu is the third major re-signing announced by the Blues this week, with fellow All Blacks stars Caleb Clarke and Stephen Perofeta both inking two-year contract extensions on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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