Hoskins Sotutu: 'I felt like I needed to have a look at other paths'

Departing Blues loose-forward Hoskins Sotutu has provided some insight into what led him to sign with the Newcastle Red Bulls for the next three seasons.

Whether or not Sotutu will return to New Zealand is yet to be seen, but the barnstorming loose-forward will be searching for an ideal end to his Blues career come Super Rugby Pacific finals in June.

Like a number of Blues teammates, 2026 will be his final year based in Auckland before heading to England to continue his career abroad.

Sotutu made 14 appearances for the All Blacks between 2020 and 2022, and has racked up 84 Blues games since making his debut in 2019.

The Newcastle Red Bulls secured the services of the 27-year-old for three years starting next season, after reports previously linked him to a move to Saracens.

Sotutu fell out of favour with former All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson and the rest of his coaching staff, despite winning Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year in the Blues’ 2024 triumph.

Robertson opted to leave Sotutu out of his first All Blacks squad ahead of the home July series against England, picking Ethan Blackadder, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea and Wallace Sititi as the loose forwards for that specific series.

Explaining to The Telegraph, Sotutu outlined why he decided on a new challenge in England.

“It is hard to get a spot in that team when you have Ardie Savea, the best player in the world, and Sam Cane, who is the captain,” Sotutu said.

“So you are down the pecking order and in 2024 I tried to put my best foot forward but things never fell my way. I felt like I needed to have a look at other paths.”

Sotutu’s father, Waisake, played 12-Tests for Fiji in 1999, meaning the Newcastle-bound loose-forward could choose the Flying Fijians, or England through his Mother’s side of the family.

“The Fijian route was appealing because my father played for them but I came over to the UK to give myself an entirely new challenge and Prem Rugby really appeals to me.

“Northern Hemisphere rugby looks like it would suit my game.”

Despite not playing Test rugby in over two years, the powerful No.8 believes the best is still yet to come.

“I am still really hungry to play well and I have got my best rugby ahead of me,” Sotutu said.

“I am keen to get to a new environment and use that as a springboard to become an even better Hoskins. I am looking forward to blending into a new group and a new city and making a change at that club.

“I still have a lot of years left in my career and I want to be the best on the park every single game. When that happens it should lead to other accolades.”

“I don’t like to think too far ahead because I think I will jinx myself,” the 27-year-old told The Telegraph.