19 - 24

40 - 19

15 - 32

18 - 25

Tomorrow

13:00

Tomorrow

13:30

Tomorrow

13:30

Tomorrow

13:30

Tomorrow

13:30

Tomorrow

15:00

Tomorrow

15:10

Saturday

08:30

Saturday

10:10

Saturday

10:30

Saturday

12:40

Saturday

15:10

Sunday

08:40

Sunday

11:10

Suntory Sungoliath confirm signing of All Blacks star Damian McKenzie

By Alex McLeod

22 Nov 2021

(Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/CPS Images/Getty Images)

Japanese club Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath has confirmed the arrival of All Blacks star Damian McKenzie for the upcoming League One season.

McKenzie is off-contract with New Zealand Rugby [NZR] in 2021, and a new deal with the national union is yet to be confirmed, meaning uncertainty reigns over when he will return to Kiwi shores in a playing capacity.

The 26-year-old playmaker wasn’t named in next year’s Chiefs squad that was unveiled along with the other Super Rugby Pacific rosters on Monday.

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster reacts to the 40-25 loss to France in Paris

McKenzie’s departure to Suntory had long been rumoured but not publicly announced until hours after the Super Rugby Pacific squads were revealed, although Chiefs CEO Michael Collins confirmed earlier this year that the franchise’s star man wouldn’t return in 2022.

McKenzie follows in the footsteps of All Blacks teammate Beauden Barrett by signing with Suntory after the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year played for the club in this year’s Top League, which has been rebranded to Japan Rugby League One.

Barrett starred for Suntory during his six-month sabbatical with the club, helping guide the club to a runner-up finish as they fell short to Robbie Deans’ Saitama Wild Knights in the final.

McKenzie won’t be the only player who featured for the All Blacks this year playing in next season’s League One, as lock Patrick Tuipulotu has joined Toyota Verblitz on a sabbatical as part of his deal with NZR.

Tuipulotu joins Barrett, TJ Perenara, Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock as All Blacks to take sabbaticals in Japan in recent years, but, given he is soon to be off-contract with NZR and is yet to re-sign, McKenzie’s move abroad isn’t of that nature.

Confirmation of McKenzie’s departure to Japan comes at the end of a season where he fell behind Jordie Barrett in the All Blacks’ fullback pecking order despite starting the year as the first-choice option in the No 15 jersey.

Since his test debut in 2016, McKenzie has made 40 appearances for the All Blacks and has played 95 times for the Chiefs over the course of seven seasons.

“I am looking forward to joining the Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath in the inaugural Japan Rugby League One competition,” McKenzie said in a statement published on the league’s website.

“I can’t wait to meet my new teammates and contribute to the Sungoliath culture as well as engaging with the Japanese fans.

“I love attacking rugby and I really look forward to playing an exciting brand of rugby. Off field I look forward to experiencing the Japanese culture.

“I hope to see everyone at full stadiums soon. Arigato.”

LIVE

Comments

0 Comments

Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Latest Features

LONG READ

'Two groups of dancing bears': The cross-code clash making a comeback for charity

For the first time in 21 years, rugby union and rugby league go head to head to raise money for motor neurone disease charities.

LONG READ

Wales 'in one of their deepest holes for a long time'

With no evidence of progress and 400 days since Wales' last win, Warren Gatland is under intense scrutiny.

LONG READ

England and their Chief problem

Steve Borthwick needs to trust his star fly-half, find a scrum and sort out a disjointed defence if he is to beat the World Champs

Comments on RugbyPass

JW 16 minutes ago

Four talking points as England name team to host the Springboks

Let's hope so, that was a fantastic game.

11 Go to comments

JW 17 minutes ago

Four talking points as England name team to host the Springboks

Lol tell that to Rassie.

I was going through the Prems 10s yesterday though and the star ones did play the full 80 for a good two thirds of their games. Generally the back up ten still got minutes however. I think you'll find you'll see the same as last week were Smith stayed on for 80 (he got found out but it was still an exciting move/tactic that worked).

11 Go to comments

Bull Shark 17 minutes ago

Australia's Brett Robinson elected new chairman of World Rugby

Riyadh Rugby

12 Go to comments

Flankly 21 minutes ago

Jake White: If I was England coach, I’d have been livid

I am not an England fan, but still very disappointed at what Borthwick is serving up. Regardless of winning or losing, they should be executing the basics at a world class level. That was the reason they replaced Eddie with Steve. After two years England has not built the solid foundations that the RFU were presumably after. Its hard to see it as anything other than a coaching problem.

Having said that I really hope that Rassie has got his team fired up for the game. The Boks at maximum intensity and with no crises (eg red cards) would be expected to win this game. But it does not take much reduction in pressure for Bok teams to lose. The Boks lose when complacency sets in.

On Felix Jones, my guess is that they can't agree on a non-compete so they kept him on payroll for the duration of the Nov tests. The risk was that he would be hired by Rassie or Razor prior to the tests.

As relates to law tweaking, it feels like WR are more comfortable discussing changes in laws than insisting on implementation. For my money the biggest thing they could do is to be strict and consistent in officiating ruck behavior. In every game we see flopping, lazy lying, clearing of unbound players, making plays while off your feet, delays in placing the ball, side entry, offside line infringements, and similar nonsense. It's really really bad, and the WR attitude seems to be that we should turn a blind eye in pursuit of "flowing rugby". In truth it's just boring, because it randomizes the outcome.

9 Go to comments

JW 23 minutes ago

Four talking points as England name team to host the Springboks

Good to see Steward back, Furbank had been dangerous but also found out of place at the back. Sensible decision based on everyones kick receipt struggles alone.

Could prove a masterstroke and you see why the team naming was delayed so that SA don't have time to change preparation from a kick heavy strategy. Will Rassie have predicted this or be looking to double down with a running approach anyway? I've suggested for a couple of years while SA produce box kickathons that they actually do better playing rugby, this could be another cracker of a match if SA go in with this mindset of beating England at their own game.

11 Go to comments

BH 33 minutes ago

The winners and losers from the 2024 All Blacks XV

Tupaea should be in the All Blacks ahead of Havili. Tupaea's versatility and his ability to steal turnovers at rucks sets him apart from Havili. NZ has enough players to cover the midfield and fullback positions that Havili usually covers.

1 Go to comments

JW 51 minutes ago

Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

That's the definition of duping.

148 Go to comments

AT 51 minutes ago

Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France

Good to read Scott Robinson taking charge of ABs selevtion..

9 Go to comments

JW 53 minutes ago

Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

Will was talking about needing to get upto speed, literally, for the game Joe wants. I wondered then if he was talking about his prep for this week or his outlook for refocusing his whole prep for the Lions next year.

148 Go to comments

SS 1 hour ago

Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

Don't get too excited about your victories over the ABs. 1 point in the RWC, then 4 and 6 in the RC, with an SA try that should never have been given. And they scored 4 tries in one game through your much vaunted defense.

60 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

Was Jordie Barretts the first test against B&I Lions? He was outstanding in that and showed the same raw instinct and skills JAS did. He, like Wright, did go on to show he didn't have the experience or the temperament to know when to use them after that of course, I'm not sure that JAS looks like he'll have that same problem.

148 Go to comments

SS 1 hour ago

Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

I remember the good old days of the All Blacks being able to do that. On our way again, but slowly

60 Go to comments

JW 2 hours ago

Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

I don't think you necessarily want to do that Francisco. Coaching the "gift" out of Jordan Petaia was one of the main reasons for his decline, and no doubt his decision to look to another sport.

Then on top of that you have the picture of three games before you first lions test, so you don't have enough to time to "bed in a more friendly interface" really. You could lean on it by moving the pieces around, and possibly different personal around it, but think it would be more wise to let it play out. It will be hard for Schmidt to hold himself back though.

148 Go to comments

Bruiser 2 hours ago

Veterans return for All Blacks as team to play France named

Canes well past his best. Ardie will shine. He has played 7 all season in Japan

13 Go to comments

NH 2 hours ago

Battle of the breakdown to determine Wallabies’ grand slam future

Nice one John. I agree that defence (along with backfield kick receipt/positioning) remains their biggest issue, but that I did see some small improvements in it despite the scoreline like the additional jackal attempts from guys like tupou and the better linespeed in tight. But, I still see two issues - 1) yes they are jackaling, but as you point out they aren't slowing the ball down. I think some dark arts around committing an extra tackler, choke tackles, or a slower roll away etc could help at times as at the moment its too easy for oppo teams to get quick ball (they miss L wright). Do you have average ruck speed? I feel like teams are pretty happy these days to cop a tackle behind the ad line if they still get quick ball... and 2) I still think the defence wide of the 3-4th forward man out looks leaky and disconnected and if sua'ali'i is going to stay at 13 I think we could see some real pressure through that channel from other teams. The wallabies discipline has improved and so they are giving away less 3 pt opportunities and kicks into their 22 via penalty. Now, they need to be able to force teams to turnover the ball and hold them out. They scramble quite well once a break is made, but they seem to need the break to happen first... Hunter, marika and daugunu were other handy players to put ruck pressure on. Under rennie, they used to counter ruck quite effectively to put pressure on at the b/down as well.

3 Go to comments

SS 2 hours ago

Ex-Ireland legend slam players' 'showboating' against the All Blacks

Yes, probably why he still annoys me even now