'Not interested': All Blacks star Richie Mo'unga not wanted by top Japanese club
One of Japan’s leading clubs says it isn’t keen on pursuing All Blacks star Richie Mo’unga despite his desire to relocate to Japan after next year’s World Cup.
In an interview with the New Zealand Herald, Mo’unga revealed that he intends to leave New Zealand to play in Japan Rugby League One for a two-year period from 2024 onwards.
Mo’unga’s revelation comes after the 32-test first-five last week announced a one-year contract extension with New Zealand Rugby, which will keep him on Kiwi shores until the end of the 2023 World Cup.
The 28-year-old’s comments will undoubtedly set the tongues of numerous League One clubs wagging due to his status as a five-time Super Rugby champion and three-time Super Rugby Player of the Year.
The Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights aren’t one of those clubs, though, according to their general manager Hitoshi Iijima.
Speaking in the wake of Panasonic’s title-winning League One campaign, Iijima said on Tuesday that the availability of Mo’unga doesn’t interest the Wild Knights.
Already equipped with the services of veteran pivots Rikiya Matsuda and Takuya Yamasawa, Iijima made it clear that the Wild Knights are unlikely to chase Mo’unga’s signature.
“We already have good first-five-eighths, two outstanding first-five-eighths, so unless Richie Mo’unga turns into a beast No 8 or lock, we’re probably not interested,” Iijima said via an interpreter.
Matsuda has been a prominent figure for the Brave Blossoms since his international debut in 2016, having played four of his 29 tests during Japan’s historic run to the 2019 World Cup quarter-finals.
Yamasawa, meanwhile, impressed en route to Panasonic’s 18-12 League One final victory over Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath on Sunday.
As such, Yamasawa has won a recall into the Brave Blossoms squad for their upcoming tests against Uruguay and France, five years after he played the last of his three tests for Japan.
The presence of those two players leaves little room at the Wild Knights for Mo’unga, whose eagerness to play in Japan on a short-term basis may also be viewed unfavourably by Panasonic.
Iijima outlined that the Wild Knights have a preference for players who are willing to commit to the club for a long period of time rather than for only a year or two, like Mo’unga is planning.
“We tend to look at players that can commit to us for a longer term, that can be loyal to the team rather than sabbatical, short-term players. We like players that are happy to commit to us for a longer term,” Iijima said.
While the Wild Knights look an unlikely destination for Mo’unga, the Crusaders pivot has hinted at a potential move to Suntory in a transfer that would see him follow in the footsteps of All Blacks teammates Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie.
Barrett and McKenzie both failed to win silverware during their respective season-long stints with Suntory as they each fell short against Panasonic in the 2021 and 2022 finals.
That prompted Mo’unga to suggest to the New Zealand Herald that he could do what his two countrymen couldn’t and turn Suntory into League One champions.
“You look at someone like D-Mac [McKenzie] who has been able to go over there and be a huge influence,” Mo’unga said.
“It’s quite funny Baz [Barrett] was there the year before and they lost in the final. D-Mac lost in the final, too, so maybe I can take Suntory one better.”
Mo’unga is expected to start for the Crusaders in Friday’s Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final against the Reds in Christchurch after missing last week’s fixture against the Queenslanders at Orangetheory Stadium through injury.
Comments on RugbyPass
This looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to comments