Northern Edition

Select Edition

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

Report: All Blacks halfback set for Japan move in 2021

(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Another All Black is set to spend a season in Japan, according to reports out of New Zealand.

Wellington and Hurricanes halfback TJ Perenara is on the cusp of inking a deal with a Top League side according to Stuff.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick spent the 2020 season in Japan until the competition was called off due to the coronavirus pandemic. Retallick is set to return next season while Beauden Barrett will also be making the move over.

Perenara, a former Super Rugby teammate of Barrett’s, is y close to signing with the NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes, a side that currently employs NZ cult hero Marty Banks as well as former Chief Tom Marshall.

Video Spacer

The Aotearoa Rugby Pod with Blues hooker James Parsons and Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall discuss everything All Blacks as they head into the first Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies.

Video Spacer

The Aotearoa Rugby Pod with Blues hooker James Parsons and Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall discuss everything All Blacks as they head into the first Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies.

The Red Hurricanes have a considerably smaller budget than the likes of Retallick’s Kobelco Steelers and Barrett’s Suntory Sungoliath, with Perenara set to be their biggest name on the ledger next season.

The 2021 Top League will likely be the last under the current structure, with a revamped competition set to take over in 2022. The final table next year will decide which divisions each team plays in moving forward, which could force a number of sides to stack their squads for the coming season.

Neither the (New Zealand) Hurricanes nor Perenara’s agent have confirmed a move for the 28-year-old as yet.

Perenara is currently the All Blacks‘ second-choice halfback, although he’s pushed Aaron Smith in recent years. Perenara, Smith and Brad Weber have all been selected for this month’s Bledisloe Cup series.

ADVERTISEMENT

Should Perenara make the move to Japan next year, he’ll miss the entirety of Super Rugby Aotearoa but likely still be available for the mid-year test matches.

Earlier this year, NZR general manager professional rugby, Chris Lendrum, said that more top All Blacks were having flexible arrangements built into their contracts – including sabbaticals.

“It allows our top players to refresh in a different rugby environment but remain committed to New Zealand Rugby which, in the long term, is great for both parties,” he said.

A Japan sojourn for Perenara would mark the first time that a non-first choice All Blacks had been granted a break from rugby in New Zealand.

ADVERTISEMENT
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