Brodie Retallick weighs in on AB rumours amid Dave Rennie appointment

109-Test All Black lock Brodie Retallick has been among the biggest talking points out of the appointment of new All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie, after the never-ending eligibility conversation came up at NZR headquarters last week.

Rennie and NZR Chair David Kirk spoke to media in Auckland on Wednesday last week, where the current Kobelco Kobe Steelers head coach was announced as Scott Robertson’s successor.

The new All Blacks head-honcho was asked by media about where he stands on whether Kiwi players should be eligible to be selected while playing overseas.

Rennie opted to use a current example as his reply, referring to Retallick, who he coaches in Japan at the Kobe Steelers.

Retallick is currently the top try-scorer in the Japan Rugby League One competition, and is off contract at the end of the 2026 season, meaning a return to New Zealand could technically be a possibility.

Speaking to D’Arcy Waldegrave on Sportstalk on Newstalk ZB, the former Chiefs lock talked about what sort of motivator Dave Rennie is as a coach.

“I think he’s got clear expectations from his players, and I guess I still have the drive to perform and want to perform my best, but like a Rennie has always done, and has always said, I’ll coach you good or bad and keep challenging you,” Retallick said.

“And I think as I’ve got older, especially as an older player, a coach that keeps challenging you to be better, and wanting to be better plays a massive part in the game.”

On whether Retallick had heard Rennie’s comments at the press conference, the 34-year-old explains it was actually his mother who alerted him to the discussions.

“Yeah, I even had my mum text me about that, so he’s kind of throwing me out there.”

The Kobe Steelers lock does admit he’s put little to no thought into returning to New Zealand Rugby or the All Blacks, but said if the rules change, there could be a conversation there.

“But honestly, I put no consideration to it, to be fair like under the current rules and when I left New Zealand Rugby, I knew that you couldn’t be picked from abroad, and I was happy with that.

“So I haven’t put much considerate. If it changes, then maybe it’s a conversation. But as of now, I think it’s probably all hearsay, until there’s actually a platform place.”

“I mean, I’ve really benefited from having a longer off season in Japan and giving my body time to recover after each season over here, we’re playing four week blocks and then having a bye week.

“So it’s probably the thing I found that held me back, or as I left New Zealand Rugby as I got a little bit older, I just didn’t recover as quick.

“And I think probably the major benefit of having my body where it is and being able to keep up with some of these quicker players over here is, is that recovery time.

“So yeah, I know, to be honest, it’s a massive question mark there, whether I was still good enough if the thing was to happen.”