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All Blacks star Caleb Clarke confirms playing future amid speculation of NRL switch

27 Jun 2022

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

All Blacks star Caleb Clarke has confirmed he will remain in rugby union despite being the subject of a cross-code rumours earlier this year.

It was announced on Monday that Clarke has signed a two-year contract extension with New Zealand Rugby [NZR] and the Blues in a deal that will keep him at both organisations until 2024.

Confirmation of Clarke’s playing future comes two months after he signalled a desire to play rugby league following next year’s World Cup in France.

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“That’s definitely one thing that I’d love to do,” the barnstorming 23-year-old wing told AAP in April about the prospect of playing in the NRL.

“I’m a big Rabbitohs supporter and I talk to the Rabbitohs boys every now and then.

“So yeah, I’d love to and I don’t know when but it’ll definitely be something that I want to tick off as a life goal.”

Those aspirations have been put on hold for the time being, though, as Clarke will remain a rugby union player for at least the next two years.

A five-test international who took the world by storm when he starred in his maiden All Blacks campaign two years ago, Clarke has established himself as a key figure in the New Zealand rugby landscape.

Formerly a New Zealand Schools representative and 2016 national schoolboy champion with Mount Albert Grammar School, Clarke was an NPC title-winner with Auckland in 2018, the same year in which he made his debut for the Blues.

He was also part of the New Zealand U20 side that claimed the World Rugby U20 Championship the year beforehand, and helped the All Blacks Sevens claim the truncated World Sevens Series title for the 2019-20 season.

While he didn’t feature for the Blues in last year’s Super Rugby Trans-Tasman success as he unsuccessfully attempted to play for the All Blacks Sevens at the Tokyo Olympics, Clarke has made a strong impression with the Auckland-based franchise.

After initially breaking onto the scene with a standout showing at the 2018 Brisbane Tens, which the Blues won, Clarke has gone on to amass 32 caps in his five season with the Super Rugby Pacific side, scoring 12 tries in the process.

His performances for the club earned him a test debut in 2020, and Blues head coach Leon MacDonald hopes to see more of the same from Clarke over the next two years.

“Caleb possess qualities that are so exciting in the modern young player,” MacDonald said in a statement released on Monday.

“He is a superb athlete, a trained sprinter who possesses speed and power and outstanding ball-skills. Best of all, he is an outstanding young man, dedicated athlete and good person.”

Clarke, who is currently part of the All Blacks squad preparing to face Ireland at Eden Park on Saturday, added that it was an easy decision to re-sign with the Blues in a deal that sees him re-commit to Auckland at provincial level as well.

“I would not want to be anywhere else than to be at the Blues. We have a fantastic environment and the boys work so hard together and have a lot of fun at the same time,” he said.

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Comments on RugbyPass

ZamaZama 8 minutes ago

Easterby hits back at France's conduct in the wake of Dupont injury

Once again the whining schoolboy wants to tell everyone how to behave. What a 💩

17 Go to comments

RedWarriors 25 minutes ago

Easterby hits back at France's conduct in the wake of Dupont injury

He publicly demanded that the Irish players should be cited and declared their actions reprehensible. The obvious implication is that the referee has made grave errors and that the ‘culprits’ and ‘butchers’ of Dupont were not reprimanded. Of course he publicly stated that he didn’t blame the referee. Ofcourse his meaning was clear and the evidence is collective rage by the French public against the referee. This is dishonest and cowardice by Galthie. The two Irish players he attacked then received threats to their safety by French ‘supporters’.

We know that France have more suspensions for dangerous tackles than all other six nations combined under Galthie.

We know that he publicly lied about the ‘injustice’ of the Ntamack v Ringrose bans. He knew the difference, he acknowledged it in his evidence for Ntamack and he knew that French players had benefitted more than any others over both cases in previous years.

The last thing rugby needs is trial by media by mini Trumps who are only interested in cheating for their own country and disguising their own short comings.

17 Go to comments

MichaelT4 36 minutes ago

Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

I definitely watched the game - England did stun them by winning, no one expected that. Not Englands fault that France dropped the ball - figuratively and literally - and it was England who then outscored them and out scrummed them and battered their big forwards back several times. England arent given enough credit for that win. Game of the tournament. Ireland v France wasnt a game by the second half, it was one-way.

For the Scotland game they were lucky Russell missed his kicks, but Scotland should have had a red card for the head contact from the winger on Chessum. No arms, jumped up and first contact was with the head. Evens out on the luck front.

Not sure England deserve an A that this article gives them, should be reserved for the winner, but they won their games by scoring more points. If another team had the same tournament as England, they would be lauded for their character and grit.

2 Go to comments

JB 52 minutes ago

Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

Re England … “they stunned France …”

Really? Were we watching the same game? France left at least 3 tries begging, none of which were due to England’s defense - they should have been out of sight by half time.

For me, it was more France losing the game than England winning it.

France were stunned, yes, but by themselves

2 Go to comments

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Crusaders rookie earns 'other than Dupont' praise from All Blacks star

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8 Go to comments

TI 1 hour ago

Lions selection: 3 winners and losers from each country

Hugo Keenan played well in games where Ireland didn’t. I think he should be listed as a winner instead of Beirne, or Sheehan, who were always going to go.

2 Go to comments

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Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?

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36 Go to comments

fl 1 hour ago

Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?

It will be interesting to see how developmental the summer squad is. Given how much consistency of selection there was throughout 2024 and the early part of 2025, I wonder if Borthwick’s suddenly erratic teamsheets were an attempt to build enough depth to play almost solely first team players against Argentina.

E.g. if Freeman and Furbank both go to Australia (which I think would be unlikely) England could still field a back three of Marcus Smith, Roebuck, and Feyi-Waboso, with Steward, Daly, Sleightholme, and Murley also in the squad. Similarly if both Curry brothers and Ben Earl all go (which I think would be similarly unlikely) England could still select Tom Willis, Underhill, and Cunningham-South in the back row. Hardly a developmental lineup! There would have to be newer and less experienced players brought in in the second row and at centre, but even here there could be starting partnerships of Martin & Coles and Dingwall & Daly.

I think there’s a good chance England’s progress will be built on directly in Argentina.

36 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 1 hour ago

Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?

The big concern for me is that our 13 forwards are at a big disadvantage against their 15.

36 Go to comments

Otagoman II 1 hour ago

Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?

They had an average game against a Hurricanes side that was marginally better. They were poor protecting their ball and blew many promising attacking raids. Tangitau did his best to win the game by himself with a 85 metre intercept try and a a quick tap kick ahead that resulted in another. Highlanders scored no phase play tries. Joseph said that their attack was basically too conservative playing one out and that the support should of been better. They will need to do better with their attack this saturday as the Reds have plenty of points in them with quick ball.

36 Go to comments

fl 1 hour ago

Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?