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Grant Williams was targetted in defence by the All Blacks
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‘I’m not an All Black’: Xavier Roe opens up on contract talks behind move to Sale Sharks
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Departing Chiefs halfback Xavier Roe has opened up on his decision to sign with the Sale Sharks in the Gallagher Premiership, describing it as “something different” to his time in New Zealand.
Roe recently put pen to paper on a deal with the Manchester-based side, who will lose both current halfbacks Raffi Quirke and Nye Thomas as they prepare for the 2027 season.
The halfback has been based in Hamilton since moving to Hamilton Boys High School back in 2012 from Pauanui, and has held a contract at the Chiefs since 2021.
The 27-year-old has made 58 appearances and counting for the Chiefs since making his debut in 2021, representing Waikato in the Bunnings NPC during the Super Rugby Pacific off-seasons.
Roe was called into the All Blacks back in 2025 ahead of their Rugby Championship Test with the Springboks at Eden Park in Auckland, and was part of Jamie Joseph’s All Blacks XV end-of-year tour late last year.
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Speaking to Millsy & Guy on Sport Nation, Roe was honest about why the decision was made to depart New Zealand shores.
“There’s obviously two things, one side, the rugby, and the other side’s lifestyle-wise, I’ve been in Hamilton since 2012, that’s when I moved here to Hamilton Boys from Pauanui, and I’ve pretty much been here the whole time,” the Chiefs halfback said on Sport Nation.
“So I think going across the world was definitely a different factor, I think that’s the beauty with a rugby, you get to travel the world and do what you love and get paid for it. So now it’d be awesome to move over there and just play with some guys I haven’t played with before, and obviously do a bit of networking over there as well, which would be awesome.
“And then obviously the rugby, it’s my sixth season now at the Chiefs and I was just keen for something different, you can obviously get pretty comfortable in your own space here at the Chiefs.
“So, yeah, when I was coming off contract, it was something that I was keen to do.”
The 27-year-old confirmed to Sport Nation that it was he who searched for a new contract elsewhere, initiating conversations with his agent at the end of 2025, knowing his contract was up at the end of 2026.
Roe explained that he personally didn’t receive any messaging from any other club in New Zealand about a possible offer to stay in the country, other than the Chiefs.
“You want to explore all options. It was actually me who went to him and said that I’d be keen to look overseas, and then yeah, obviously he puts the feelers out, and yeah, Sale Sharks came to him and looked into it and that’s where it stemmed from,” Roe said.
“I’m not an All Black. I don’t have a so-called New Zealand rugby contract. I’m only contracted to the Chiefs and Waikato NPC here, so yeah, for me it’s probably not that competitive where I am in the pecking order around New Zealand.
“I’m not sure what it’s like for those those top-end top-end guys or anything, but for me it was a lot money-wise. It’s a lot better for me heading overseas.”
“I never really had anything. I never had any talks with anyone. No one really got in touch with me, I know that the Chiefs were keen to keep me, but no, I never saw any other contract or anything like that.”
