Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Brodie Retallick on why he won't play for the Chiefs in next month's rugby restart

By Online Editors
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick has revealed why he turned down a return to the Chiefs for next month’s Super Rugby Aotearoa competition. Retallick was among the many New Zealand players who returned home from Japan when the Top League season was cancelled due to Covid-19.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 28-year-old is contracted with New Zealand Rugby until 2023 but took a two-year sabbatical to play for the Kobelco Steelers in Japan in 2020 and 2021. Retallick’s situation is similar to other top returning players such as Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo and Ryan Crotty, all of whom are under contract overseas and would require New Zealand Super Rugby sides to cover insurance costs to enable them to suit up for the Aotearoa campaign.

However, the Chiefs still did reach out to Retallick about potentially re-joining the franchise, but he instead opted for an extended break. “The Chiefs did approach me, but one of the reasons I wanted to stay (playing) in Japan and do these couple of seasons was just to have a break – a bit of time with the family with a long offseason, and give the body a bit of a break,” he told The Country section of The New Zealand Herald. 

Video Spacer

RugbyPass brings you latest episode of The Breakdown, the Sky NZ TV rugby programme

Video Spacer

RugbyPass brings you latest episode of The Breakdown, the Sky NZ TV rugby programme

Retallick poked fun at Chiefs coach Warren Gatland for suggesting he was spending his break on a Hawke’s Bay farm, like his international locking partner Sam Whitelock, who stayed on his family’s farm in the region before re-joining the Crusaders.

“Warren Gatland chucked it out there that I wasn’t going to play Super Rugby and that I was spending some time on my Hawke’s Bay farm, but I can clarify that – I own a property in Hawke’s Bay, where we are at the moment, but it’s only about 1,500 square metres, so it’s no farm, that’s for sure,” laughed Retallick.

“I’m sure the footy is going to be good viewing with Super Rugby Aotearoa, it’s going to be tough, but living in the Hawke’s Bay at the moment I decided not to chuck the boots on for the Chiefs this season and just enjoy a bit of a longer break that we have got now.”

Retallick is also open about changes to test rugby in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, saying it could be a good opportunity to trial new ideas. “I’m not sure how Test rugby is going to look over the next year or so with all these restrictions and where different countries are at.”

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

TRENDING
TRENDING Dean Richards set for return to rugby management Dean Richards set for return to rugby management
Search