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'Best lock in the world': Rennie clarifies update on former All Black lock’s possible return

reporting from Auckland

Brodie Retallick of Kobelco Kobe Steelers is tackled (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)
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109-Test All Black lock Brodie Retallick is no stranger to big moments and matches in a black jersey, and it might not be over just yet, according to incoming head coach Dave Rennie.

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Retallick recently won the top try-scorer award for the Japan Rugby League One competition for 2026, scoring an incredible 17 tries from lock in the regular season.

His team, the Kobelco Kobe Steelers, coached by Rennie, have finished the regular season top of the table heading into the playoffs, earning a two-week break before a home semi-final on May 30.

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Retallick’s last All Blacks appearance was the 2023 Rugby World Cup final defeat against South Africa in Paris, before signing a lucrative deal with the Japanese side.

When Rennie was appointed as the head coach back in March, he used Retallick as an example of letting experienced players from overseas, in this case with over 100 Tests, be selected for the All Blacks.

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In Tuesday’s press conference in Auckland, Rennie was asked the same question, replying with a glowing review of the Kobe Steelers lock.

“He’s been the best player in Japan, been phenomenal,” the All Black coach said.

“Just won some award for top try-scorer, but it’s all the other stuff that Brodie does over there, which is outrageous, and he trains exactly the way he plays. So, yeah, I would also say he’s the best lock in the world.”

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“I’m not sure if Kobe would be too excited about this conversation, but it’s [Rugby World Cup] in the offseason. So yeah, look, I wind Brodie up about a little bit. He loves the All Blacks and I reckon he’s good enough. So it will take, obviously, discussions, and so we’ll push that back at the moment and focus on this year, and then we’ll talk about Brodie next year.

Rennie, who will visit a couple of Super Rugby Pacific franchises this week, explained that Scott Robertson also had a conversation with Retallick and that the outcome is still the same.

“Nah no Brodie [this year], he’s unavailable to do a lot of long distance travel, but he never was. I was always talking about maybe a World Cup, the biggest travel Brodie does nowadays is on the Shinkansen to Tokyo. So we’re away one night, he wasn’t excited about six weeks in Africa,” Rennie said.

“And I think Razor had this conversation with him 12 months ago. So, yeah obviously we’ve got 150 odd days in hotels this year. So, that wouldn’t excite the big man. I guess we’ll continue our discussions around, would there be any flexibility around a guy like Brodie, who played 12 years of Test rugby, 12 years of Super Rugby and has made a massive contribution to rugby here.

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“I reckon he’s earned the right if he was available, and if the system allowed and he was playing good enough to potentially be available next year.”

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Comments

12 Comments
D
DP 32 days ago

Awesome player, best lock in Japan - has to play International rugby to see where he sits in the pecking order of “ best in the world”

H
HF 31 days ago

Let's not forget a lot of the SA locks play in Japan. Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert, and Juan Oosthuyzen all play there.

C
Cantab 32 days ago

The likes of Mo'unga & Retallick were first choice AB selections at the last world cup. If they can still perform at the same or better levels NOW then welcome back into the fold. We need to see them again performing in the hot bed of international test rugby before that can be determined by the AB selectors.

T
TokoRFC 32 days ago

I’m not sure Rennie should be having this coversation so openly. Feels a bit too much how Razor shot himself in the foot with Mounga. I’d rather the convo was around the locks we have in NZ

T
TT. 32 days ago

Totally agree… However, maybe Retallick legend’s status will make it less damaging than Razor’s comments on Mo’unga who was perhaps not perceived by other players in the same way

J
JW 32 days ago

I thought the same and wondered if his motive was just to defend Razor.

J
JW 32 days ago

he wasn’t excited about six weeks in Africa

Makes you wonder how much of a toll the playing lifestyle is, and whether he really is now able to reach a different physical and mental state because his in such a no pressure, no stress, 100% enjoyable state.


So basically if he is the best performing lock in the world, he wouldn’t be any other situation, especially not playing for the All Blacks. I do think there is room for another tier after ‘sabbatical’ though, engage it now and have him available for all the BIG matches, which also should only be played at Eden Park (to accommodate him of course).

B
Bazzallina 31 days ago

Nice JW there is wiggle room especially in regards to players like Brodie and Ardie and moving forward maybe even some others if they wear black I’m sure they still need to get paid but there would be significant cash being freed up for the others ?

H
Hammer Head 32 days ago

Best lock in Japan, without doubt.

S
SB 32 days ago

No doubt he was. Perhaps he is out of all the players not playing test rugby now. But at the moment or in this World Cup cycle, it’s hard to make that case.

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