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'It's something that I'd love to do': Caleb Clarke reveals rugby league ambitions
By
Sam Smith
All Blacks star Caleb Clarke has signalled a desire to play rugby league, revealing that playing in rugby union’s rival code is something that he has “always wanted” to do.
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Speaking to The Crowd Goes Wild, Clarke said he was more “keen” on going to league than All Blacks teammate Jordie Barrett, who sparked numerous headlines late last year when he indicated his interest in playing the 13-man code.
“I’ve seen a lot of articles about Jordie and how Jordie wants to go, but I was like, ‘Bro, you’re not as keen as I am’. I would be so keen to go. I’ve always wanted to play league,” Clarke told The Crowd Goes Wild.
The five-test international added that his father, former All Blacks wing Eroni Clarke, didn’t want him to play league after receiving offers to do so while Caleb was a schoolboy at Mt Albert Grammar.
“Dad said no earlier. He didn’t actually tell me back in high school, there [were] many offers in high school. He didn’t tell me until after I signed with Auckland and the Blues.”
Nevertheless, Clarke reaffirmed his eagerness to try his hand at league, telling The Crowd Goes Wild: “It’s something that I’d love to do. It’d be awesome.”
Clarke’s comments come just days after Channel Nine reported that the 22-year-old had “put the feelers out” for a potential cross-code move.
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However, Newshub poured cold water over such a prospect, reporting that Clarke is “not even a one percent chance” of leaving union for league, adding that the Blues wing is “on the verge of signing a multi-year extension with the Blues and NZ Rugby”.
Clarke has played three matches and scored two tries for the Blues this season after returning to the franchise following an unsuccessful attempt to play for the All Blacks Sevens at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.
The Blues won’t play this weekend after their Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch was postponed due to a Covid outbreak in both squads.
Clarke and the Blues will return to action next Saturday when they face the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
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He would make a good wing or centre in league