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All Blacks youngster Braydon Ennor re-commits to New Zealand Rugby
One-cap All Blacks prospect Braydon Ennor has re-committed to New Zealand Rugby and the Crusaders on a deal that will see him stay in New Zealand until 2023.
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The 22-year-old utility back has featured regularly for the Crusaders since making his Super Rugby debut in 2018, playing a key role from either centre or wing as the Christchurch club added two further crowns to the title they bagged three years ago.
Ennor’s rise through the ranks and impressive form led to a maiden All Blacks call up in 2019, with the former New Zealand U20 star making his test debut off the bench against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Given his youth and potential, many are expecting the youngster to add a raft of test caps to his international tally, with Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson describing the news as “awesome”.
“He’s come through some amazing years to make it as an All Black and now he has a chance to stamp his mark on Super Rugby,” he said on Wednesday. “As consistent and professional as he is.
“He’s a really important part of our group, he’s a good man, and he could be a 100-game Crusader at this rate.”
Although he couldn’t be reached for comment, Ennor told RugbyPass in a recent interview of how much he was enjoying his time in the Crusaders set-up.
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“There’s obviously a lot of guys that see the success and the amount of All Blacks that are produced through the Crusaders and decide to come down here,” he said.
“There’s a lot of good footy players down here and that’s the consequence that you might not get on the field, but for me, it’s about being in the Crusaders environment, it’s always going to be more beneficial than being anywhere else for me.
“The amount of experience and people that are willing to help you learn is just more beneficial for your rugby career than anything.”
Originally signed on with the Crusaders until the end of next year, Ennor joins club skipper Scott Barrett in extending his contract until 2023.
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The 26-year-old lock re-signed with NZR and the Crusaders for three more years last week, joining a high-profile group of players including older brother Beauden and fellow second rower Brodie Retallick in signing on until 2023.
Ennor becomes the seventh All Black, past or present, to join that group as a place in that year’s World Cup squad for France 2023 looms on the horizon.
The Crusaders will open their Super Rugby Aotearoa account with a round two clash against the Hurricanes at Sky Stadium in Wellington on June 21.
All Blacks contract expiry dates
2020
Brett Cameron
Mitchell Drummond
Matt Duffie
Gareth Evans
Jack Goodhue
Vaea Fifita
Shannon Frizell
Luke Jacobson
Josh Ioane
Nepo Laulala
Atu Moli
Angus Ta’avao
Patrick Tuipulotu
2021
Asafo Aumua
Sam Cane
Dane Coles
Bryn Hall
Nathan Harris
David Havili
Akira Ioane
Ngani Laumape
Damian McKenzie
Nehe Milner-Skudder
TJ Perenara
Ardie Savea
Aaron Smith
Codie Taylor
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
Karl Tu’inukuafe
Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Brad Weber
2022
Jordie Barrett
George Bridge
Liam Coltman
Rieko Ioane
Joe Moody
Richie Mo’unga
Sevu Reece
2023
Beauden Barrett
Scott Barrett
Braydon Ennor
Anton Lienert-Brown
Tyrel Lomax
Brodie Retallick
Sam Whitelock
Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
8 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
8 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
8 Go to comments