Caleb Clarke: Injury a 'blessing in disguise' in wake of police chase proceedings

All Blacks speedster Caleb Clarke is finally fit and available for rugby duties after a 2025 riddled with disruptions. The 26-year-old has been named to start on the left wing for Auckland in this weekend’s round of NPC action, and will rejoin the All Blacks next week ahead of their hugely anticipated clash with the Springboks.

Clarke has healed from the ankle injury that sidelined him for the past seven weeks, and he’s also been able to move on from the legal issues that came about following a police chase last December. The Blues star faced charges of dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.

While he was discharged without conviction on the very same day that he was named in the All Blacks squad back in June, Clarke, who pleaded guilty and has had his license revoked for a period of 12 months, says the saga didn’t end there.

“I’ve said to a few loved ones that it was quite a blessing in disguise that I got injured when I did. I was ready to go for the All Blacks, but I knew there was a part that I needed to find – and being injured gave me the time to find it,” he explained in an interview with 1News.

“I put rugby down as the fourth most important thing for me. It’s family, faith and friends [first]. What happened off the field affected all three of them. Hearing how what happened affected all three of them – and my family, especially my little brothers, was tough to hear.

“It was the unknown and being unsure what was going to happen and what the outcome would be [that was the hardest].

“I lost confidence, and I couldn’t focus on day-to-day activities because my mind was so far ahead, and that was my fault. It was all on me and making that mistake that night back in December.

“The best thing I can say is I’ve learned from that, and I learned not to make impulsive decisions. I know that being in the unknown can shock me to my core. Now that I’ve moved past it, I’m so excited to get out there and play.

“I’ve grown and learned and am ready to have some fun.”

Fixture

Bunnings NPC

Wellington

36 - 17

Full-time

Auckland

All Stats and Data

Clarke’s NPC return sees him join Payton Spencer, son of All Blacks great Carlos Spencer, and rising star Caleb Tangitau in the starting back three. Tangitau made his return from a lengthy injury layoff last week, picking up where he left off in his breakout Super Rugby season by running for a team-high of 86 metres with the ball in hand.

For Clarke, though, the Super Rugby season was anything but spectacular. The 29-cap All Black didn’t score a single point in 887 minutes on the park for the Blues, and after leading the way in 2024 with 22 clean breaks and 1220 run metres en route to a championship, he fell well off the pace in 2025 with just three clean breaks and 518 carry metres as the Blues limped through their title defence campaign.

“This year has been such a rollercoaster for myself,” he added. “I can say that that Super season was not the best. Being in the All Blacks and around the boys who continually push you and compete got me to the point where I was ready to go. Being injured put me in a better place than I was.

“I’ve got that enjoyment back and freedom. Being with the Auckland boys… It’s a young crew. Looking around the group, there are probably only five or six of us who are over 24 or 25. Finding new ways to lead… I’m just itching to go and have some fun.”

Clarke, arguably the All Blacks’ best wing option under the high ball, will come straight back into the selection fold for Scott Robertson, whose backfield was picked apart by Los Pumas’ aerial game last weekend.

“I think people underestimate the contest in the air and how much it impacts the game… it favours the team that kicks it and not many people realise that,” he said. “It’s a part of the game I quite enjoy.”