Richie Mo’unga’s proposed early return to New Zealand is currently off the table after the respective parties failed to agree a deal, according to a report.
The world-class fly-half signed a three-year contract with Toshiba Brave Lupus ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, joining the Japanese club after their runner-up finish in the global tournament.
Having established himself as the All Blacks’ first-choice 10, it was a huge blow for incoming head coach Scott Robertson, who worked with him at the Crusaders.
All Blacks’ current fly-half options
Robertson switched between Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett last year in the pivot role in 2024, but he struggled to find the right formula and revealed that he was open to bringing Mo’unga back home.
Discussions between New Zealand Rugby, the 30-year-old and his club side therefore began last year but, according to 1News, talks have since broken down and he will at the very least see out his contract at Toshiba.
“Discussions stalled at the end of last season,” Mo’unga’s agent Cam McIntyre, of LittleGIANT Sports, told 1News. “There is currently no change to the terms of Richie’s contract [at Toshiba].”
Mo’unga is currently contracted to Toshiba until June 2026, which means that he could still return to New Zealand and fight for a place ahead of the World Cup.
However, by that point, it would be just a year to go until the global tournament in Australia and Robertson may have already nailed down his fly-half plans.
Last year, there were suggestions that Mo’unga’s head had been turned by the Crusaders legend becoming the All Blacks boss, opening up the possibility of him returning early, but as it stands that is now not going to happen.
“I signed for three years with Toshiba and my intentions were, ‘Yep, I’m going do the three years’,” the fly-half told Stuff in July 2024.
“[But] obviously with ‘Razor’ [Robertson] coming along and saying he’d love to have me back home, it’s just given me another opportunity to think about where I’m at with my footy.
“I obviously had a really successful year in my first year and I’m trying to weigh up the options of what would be best for my family, but also what would be best for my footy as well.
“So, those conversations are still happening and to be honest there’ll be no rush before we all come to a decision.”
Richie Mo’unga makes All Blacks admission on day of Scott Robertson’s first team selection
How it affected All Blacks’ third-choice pivot
There is now a risk that NZR’s desire to chase Mo’unga may have done more harm than good. For starters, McKenzie and Barrett could have felt undermined by the talk surrounding the former Crusaders star.
There is then the case of Harry Plummer, who was third-choice pivot in 2024 and made his Test debut in the Rugby Championship.
Plummer has since announced that he will depart New Zealand Rugby after the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season has finished having signed a three-year deal with Clermont Auvergne.
The 26-year-old actually cited the talk around Mo’unga as a factor in his decision to leave.
“There’s talk of Richie Mo’unga coming back. That didn’t seal my fate but it weighed on me little bit,” he told New Zealand Herald.
Plummer also added: “I feel like New Zealand rugby is in a position where they showed their hand a little bit with their first-five stock.
“You’ve got Beauden, with a wealth of experience, and we saw what he did on the world stage on the northern tour. DMac has been playing some unbelievable footy and during the Rugby Championship showed exactly what he can do and the impact he brings to a game.
“Being in that environment I felt I probably wasn’t going to get a shot, a proper crack at how I envisioned it.”
As it happens, New Zealand Rugby may now have neither player available to them for the World Cup.
READ MORE: Departing All Black reveals key Scott Robertson call ‘weighed on me’ and contributed to shock exit
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Publish date : 2025-01-22 09:01:45
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