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One-test All Blacks playmaker Brett Cameron moves north for 2021 provincial season

(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

One-test All Blacks playmaker Brett Cameron will play for Manawatu in this year’s National Provincial Championship [NPC] campaign.

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Cameron had been a long-serving member of the Canterbury squad, having made his first-class debut for the southern province in 2017, the same year Canterbury won its ninth title in 10 seasons.

The 24-year-old has since become a regular sighting in the Canterbury No. 10 jersey, with his efforts leading to a deal with the Crusaders in 2018 and a test debut for the All Blacks against Japan later on that year.

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Cameron said a return to test rugby is on his mind, but, in order to do that, consistent performances in the New Zealand provincial scene is required first.

“From what game time I do get, just keep growing on my performances and be consistent,” he said.

“Then moving into [NPC] just keep nailing my role with consistent performances for Manawatu.”

Signing with the Turbos reflects something of a homecoming for Cameron, who was born near the Manawatu area in Whanganui and attended the town’s Cullinane College before relocating to Christchurch to study and further his rugby career.

“I have been down here [Christchurch] for quite a while now straight out of school. It is going to be [a] nice change being close to home,” he said.

The acquisition of Cameron suggests the Turbos have found a genuine long-term replacement for experienced first-five Otere Black, who departed the province after six years of service in 2019 to join Bay of Plenty.

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In Black’s place, the likes of Stewart Cruden and Ben Wyness have donned the green-and-white No. 10 jersey, but Cameron seems primed to slot straight into the starting lineup.

“It is a good new challenge for me,” he said. “It is also a chance to be close to home which is pretty cool.

“I am pretty excited to get alongside a young team and test myself in a new environment and keep growing as a player.”

Cameron played a starring role as he guided the Crusaders to a second half comeback in Friday’s pre-season clash with the Highlanders in Temuka, helping his side overcome a 26-0 halftime deficit to clinch a 28-26 win.

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Cameron could also feature for the Crusaders when they open their Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign against the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin next Friday.

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Tom 56 minutes ago
England player ratings vs South Africa | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

I'm not sure about the Earl incident. I recall him missing an important tackle but he's certainly a quick flanker. SB has him cover centre when doing 6-2, fortunately we've never had to see how that would play out.


I'm not getting on board I'm afraid. The fact that England are scoring tries and being competitive despite being so amazingly disorganised and managing to lose every match is even more frustrating. The players front up and make a good account of themselves physically but the defence since Felix Jones is so much less organised. Players are flying out the line all over the place, there is no cohesion at all... And the attack... Literally it's just Marcus Smith.. and a bit of Feyi Waboso. Almost every player in the backline has done nothing offensively because the structure just isn't there for it, there's nothing creative or innovative to challenge the defense. The last 20 mins against the Boks it was just runners on crash ball off the 9, over and over getting smashed behind the gainline and turned over. These players are capable of doing much better.


We did score tries under Eddie but the backs didn't create anything. It worked well for a while but when we no longer had a big pack with the likes of Haskell and the Vunipolas playing well, it stopped working very rapidly. Once we started losing the gainline and couldn't exert so much pressure through bullying, they suddenly all looked clueless and we finished 5th in consecutive six nations.


I'd love to be on board, I've watched every game for the last 15 years and what I see is just super frustrating. It's groundhog day. The same mistakes over and over and no sign of progress. They've pushed some good sides close in this series but there is no acknowledgement of the issues, they keep saying how close they are and they're a growing team etc... he's been in charge for 2 years and has hundreds of caps in the side. This will end poorly, he's not the right guy, but thank you for trying.

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