Intenational Rugby player states intention to stay in Japanese Rugby
chie Mo’unga states intention to stay in Japanese Rugby
Richie Mo’unga, the great fly-half from New Zealand, has set his sights on a lengthy career in Japan following the Rugby World Cup.
After leading the All Blacks to the World Cup final, where they were barely defeated by South Africa, Mo’unga started a new chapter in his career with Toshiba Brave Lupus of Japanese Rugby League One.
Mo’unga temporarily halted his international career to completely commit to his new club before to his move to Japan, having signed a three-year contract prior to the World Cup.
After winning seven Super Rugby titles during his brief time with the Crusaders, the 29-year-old recently told Japanese reporters how committed he was to Toshiba.
“Staying in the moment, I just want to do everything I can for Toshiba. Mo’unga declared, “I really can see myself playing here until I retire.”
His decision to join Toshiba deviates from the customary New Zealand rugby path, when players frequently choose their national team before their local team.
Richie Mo’unga, the great fly-half from New Zealand, has set his sights on a lengthy career in Japan following the Rugby World Cup.
After leading the All Blacks to the World Cup final, where they were barely defeated by South Africa, Mo’unga started a new chapter in his career with Toshiba Brave Lupus of Japanese Rugby League One.
Prior to moving to Japan, Mo’unga signed a three-year contract prior to the World Cup.
temporarily pausing his international career to commit to his new club fully.
The 29-year-old, fresh from a successful stint with the Crusaders that yielded seven Super Rugby titles, expressed his dedication to Toshiba in a recent statement to reporters in Japan.
“Focused on the present, I just want to give all I can to Toshiba. I really can see myself playing here as long as I can until I retire,” Mo’unga affirmed.
His commitment to Toshiba marks a departure from the traditional New Zealand rugby pathway, where players often prioritise international duty.
Mo’unga’s fellow All Black, Shannon Frizell, has also joined Toshiba, while other World Cup teammates such a
duty.
Mo’unga’s fellow All Black, Shannon Frizell, has also joined Toshiba, while other World Cup teammates such as Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Sam Cane, and Ardie Savea have also embraced Japanese club rugby.
Cane and Savea have opted for short-term sabbatical deals, intending to return for All Blacks duties next year. In contrast, Mo’unga’s move appears more permanent, with the fly-half expressing that, at this point, the All Blacks are distant.
“This isn’t a rest for me; it’s not a one-year thing. I’m fully involved and fully committed,” he clarified, dismissing the term ‘sabbatical.’
Mo’unga’s shift to Japan renders him ineligible for future All Blacks selections, a decision he forewarned earlier in the year, suggesting that more New Zealand players might explore overseas opportunities at a younger age.
Having earned his 56th Test cap in the World Cup final against South Africa, Mo’unga, who has spent his entire career in Canterbury, is eager for the challenge of a new environment.
He expressed his anticipation for the upcoming Japanese season, set to kick off in early December, with his likely tournament debut against the Shizuoka Blue Revs on December 9.