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Report: Former All Blacks prop Jamie Mackintosh in line for Kiwi rugby return with new team
Former All Blacks prop Jamie Mackintosh could be set for a return to first-class rugby in New Zealand after five years abroad.
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A report from the Otago Daily Times states that the 35-year-old, who played one test for the All Blacks against Scotland and a mid-week match against Munster in 2008, has returned to New Zealand from the United States after the coronavirus pandemic cut short the 2020 Major League Rugby season.
Plying his trade for the Austin Gilgronis alongside fellow one-cap All Black Frank Halai, Mackintosh made just three appearances for the Texas club before the season was cancelled in March.
The report indicates that the former Highlanders captain has since relocated to Dunedin and has been helping out the Otago squad in training ahead of the Mitre 10 Cup campaign, which is due to kick-off in September.
While he hasn’t signed a contract with the provincial union, it is believed Mackintosh is still eager to prolong his playing career, and would likely turn out in the local club competition in Dunedin, according to the ODT.
That could lead to a call-up to the Otago squad, provided he plays well enough, Otago Rugby Football Union general manager Richard Kinley said.
Such a move would be a disappointment for Southland fans, given Mackintosh’s stature within the Southland region.
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The burly front rower played a total of 123 games for the Stags between 2004 and 2015, and played a vital role in leading them to their first Ranfurly Shield success in 50 years when they defeated Canterbury in 2009.
He also was part of the squad that re-captured the Log o’ Wood off Canterbury once more two years later, and made 67 appearances for the Highlanders between 2007 and 2013.
Mackintosh also spent two seasons with the Chiefs before jetting off to take up a contract with Top 14 club Montpellier following the 2015 Super Rugby season.
Former All Blacks speedster Joe Rokocoko has described it as bizarre seeing his ex-international teammate Dan Carter in Blues colours. #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/QQ0Qp46hDV
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 20, 2020
In the five years since, he has played in the now-defunct PRO Rugby competition in the United States for the Ohio Aviators and for French side Pau, as well as the Gilgronis.
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Should Mackintosh play for Otago in this season’s Mitre 10 Cup, it would echo the move made by his former Highlanders and All Blacks teammate Adam Thomson last year.
After seven years away from New Zealand rugby, the 38-year-old loose forward made a miraculous comeback from a spinal infection to return to action for Otago in the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup.
So good were his performances under the roof of Forsyth Barr Stadium that he won a spot in the Chiefs’ squad ahead of this year’s Super Rugby campaign as an injury replacement player.
Thomson has since gone on to make one appearance for the Hamilton franchise against the Sunwolves in Tokyo back in February, and has been named to start from the bench in Saturday’s Super Rugby Aotearoa clash with the Blues.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
31 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
27 Go to comments