Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'I needed some sort of change or stimulation if I wanted to stay in New Zealand': Beauden Barrett sheds light on move to Blues

Beauden Barrett. (Photos by Getty Images)

Beauden Barrett’s move from the Hurricanes to the Blues was hailed as one of the biggest coups in Super Rugby’s history but it left many Hurricanes fans feeling disgruntled that their key playmaker had ‘turned his back’ on the team.

ADVERTISEMENT

While the Hurricanes had other exceptional talents on their books, including All Blacks TJ Perenara, Ardie Savea and Ngani Laumape, Barret was the team’s superstar and the man that the side had in some ways been built around since 2016.

At the time, Barrett explained that the decision to shift to the Blues was a holistic one, based on what was best for his young family.

Video Spacer

James Parsons and Bryn Hall talk about all the action and news from the week of rugby in New Zealand and across the world.

Video Spacer

James Parsons and Bryn Hall talk about all the action and news from the week of rugby in New Zealand and across the world.

“It’s a big move to sign anywhere for four years. I knew I wasn’t ready to go offshore and I know I have plenty left in the tank and plenty to give to New Zealand rugby,” he said. “We worked back from there and figured out what would be the best thing for me, my family and for my rugby.”

That explanation didn’t necessarily appease the passionate Hurricanes supporters in Wellington, however. Speaking on the latest episode of James Marshall’s What a Lad podcast, Barrett has provided some further clarity on the move – which might ease the pain of the many fans who still lament their star player’s shift north.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by James Marshall (@what_a_lad_podcast)

Marshall, a former teammate of Barrett, revealed that the All Black brought up the potential shift when the pair had been rooming together in Johanessburg.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I remember this move quite vividly,” he said. “I remember rooming with you in Jo’burg in South Africa when you first sort of mentioned it and told me the situation. I remember how tough it was for you.”

“It was a very difficult one,” Barrett responded.

“To leave a club where you’ve played 120 games, things like your father’s played for the club, your brother’s playing for the club, a team that you’ve looked up to and adored all your life, watching the greats play – Cully, Tana, and so on – but probably more the teammates, those bonds and connections and friendships you’ve made and you enjoy, [they’re a] big reason you play footy. That was probably the hardest thing.”

Despite the strong connections that Barrett had at the Hurricanes, the first five acknowledged that after nine years with the side, he was starting to become too accustomed to the same routine week-in and week-out.

“I was becoming a little bit bored of the same same, of the same environment,” he said. “It just got a little bit repetitive to me and I needed some sort of change or stimulation if I wanted to stay in New Zealand and play for the All Blacks and not go off-shore for good and play footy.”

ADVERTISEMENT

He also explained the many reasons external to rugby that were behind the move.

“It was also a personal family decision. We thought, look, we’re going to end up living Auckland at some stage, Wellington isn’t home. I’m a Naki boy. My wife and I met in 2013, she was studying [in Wellington]. So we had a good stint down there together and we felt it was time.

“I wanted to make a shift to Auckland while still playing and make that transition while playing because I wanted to challenge myself in a different environment, stimulate myself to ultimately become a better All Black and a better play for New Zealand. Because once again, I didn’t want to go overseas at that stage. And it’s obviously Hannah’s home, it was always going to be our future home, so that was a big deciding factor.

“I love living in Auckland. It’s great having Hannah’s family support around, family and friends around. It has so much to offer as well. And I get my barbecue out five nights a week instead of once a year. So there were so many different factors but it came down to, ultimately, a quality of life [decision], like am I living the best life I can? Because yes, rugby’s important, but I can still play rugby and have the best life we can have as a family in Auckland so I thought it just ticked so many boxes.

“I’m so happy that we did make the decision when we did. I don’t know if I would have been too happy down in Wellington if I’d stayed. I think it is important to stress that there is a bigger picture here. We play rugby for a very short amount of time and it was about me living my best life whilst still playing in New Zealand and also thinking of our future.”

Built into Barrett’s four-year contract with the Blues was the option to take a sabbatical – which he’s exercised over the current Super Rugby season by playing for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan.

Suntory were beaten by Robbie Deans’ Panasonic Wild Knights in the Top League final late last month and Barrett has since returned to New Zealand and it available to play for the national side in their upcoming matches with Tonga and Fiji.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

1 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ The joy, spirit and obstacles of the rugby pilgrim The joy, spirit and obstacles of the rugby pilgrim
Search