Richard Kahui has no regrets but 'it would be nice to play even just one more Test'
Calling time on an international career when you’ve still got plenty of rugby left in you is a tough decision to make.
It’s something we’ve seen more of in recent times – particularly in New Zealand, where a move overseas comes with greater financial support but at the cost of giving up a spot in the All Blacks.
Charles Piutau, at just 23-years-old, decided to head over to Wasps to try to make a better living for his family. Blues teammate Steven Luatua did much the same, choosing to head overseas right when he was coming into his own as a player. He was just 26 when he made that decision.
Whilst some external figures were disappointed at their departures – and the departures of many more – it’s hard to question the players’ motives. A professional rugby career might last 15 years if you’re lucky, so players need to earn the money that’s on offer while they still can.
The decision is even more justifiable for many of the Pacific Island players who are often supporting large families.
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Sometimes there are other factors that come into play – as was the case with Richard Kahui.
A professional career might last 15 years, but that’s certainly not always going to be the case. Some players, for one reason or another, aren’t going to be able to get quite as much mileage out of their bodies.
The number of players who are retiring during their peak playing years seems to be on the rise, with men like Ben Afeaki, James Broadhurst and Dave Denton all calling it quits well before their time. In those cases, concussion has been the cause.
It wasn’t concussion that made Kahui question his longevity in the game – but it was something he dealt with during his career.
“That’s the injury that everyone worries most about, the head injury,” Kahui says.
“We’ve all had a number of concussions.
“I remember getting knocked and just saying to the trainer ‘look I’m fine, I’ll carry on’ and you would just carry on because that’s how it was.
“Now there are rules that say you can’t, so it just adds a little barrier in the way.”
Kahui’s head, despite taking a few knocks, was in pretty good shape. His shoulders were another story.
“I actually made the decision to leave New Zealand in 2012,” Kahui reveals.
“I’d just dislocated my shoulder [again]. It was shoulder injury number five at that stage. I was just fed up and had had enough.
Scott Robertson will struggle to assemble an @AllBlacks coaching team as strong as this!https://t.co/R5VPwBmW4s #AllBlacks
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 23, 2019
“My wife Amy and I sat down and we said ‘I want to keep playing rugby if my body allows it. Where’s the best place to do that?’”
Europe was the most common destination at the time – primarily France.
France’s Top 14, however, had 26 matches in the regular season and there were potential European games to factor in too. The hits would be just as hard as in New Zealand – if not harder – which would not have boded well for Kahui’s shoulders.
Japan’s Top League, by contrast, comprised of a mere 13 games a season in 2012 (excluding playoffs). In comparison to Europe, the players were also smaller and less likely to do any lasting damage.
For Kahui, picking the destination was an easy decision – but actually choosing to leave New Zealand was still incredibly difficult.
“I just wanted to be an All Black as long as I could.
“I felt like I was just coming into my prime playing years. Just after the World Cup, I had a lot of confidence, 2012 was going really well… [then came the dislocated shoulder].”
“When I got injured, that’s when I sort of realised it was pretty much over for me.
“I don’t think I pulled the eject button too early and I definitely don’t regret my decision, but of course it would be nice to play even just one more Test.”
Richard Kahui played his final game for the All Blacks at the 2011 World Cup in the final against France at Eden Park.
Shoulder injuries in 2012 and 2013 stymied any chance of further appearances for New Zealand post the successful 2011 season and after the Chief’s second Super Rugby title in 2013, Kahui headed off to Japan to link up with Toshiba Brave Lupus.
The 2020 Top League season, which will kick off in early January, will be Kahui’s seventh season in Japan.
It’s been a mixed bag of results for the midfielder – both on a club and a personal level.
Kahui’s first three years with Toshiba saw the Lupus make three finals appearances.
In 2013 and 2014, Toshiba were bundled out of the semis by the Panasonic Wild Knights. They went one better in 2015 but were again beaten by Robbie Deans’ Wild Knights – this time in the final.
Kahui was named at inside centre in the Team of the Season for that 2015 year.
Results haven’t been quite so impressive since, with Toshiba managing 9th, 6th and 11th place finishes.
Kahui hasn’t exactly escaped injury-free since he left New Zealand, but his shoulders haven’t had many issues. He also took on the role as team captain during Toshiba’s most recent seasons – something which severely challenged his Japanese speaking ability.
South African billionaire mining magnate Patrice Motsepe has bought a controlling share in the Bulls in a move which could have significant implications for potential future Springboks.https://t.co/zpawHqLMYc
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 23, 2019
“I remember last year, when speaking in a huddle I would look across at my best Japanese mate in the team, Yoshikazu (Morita),” Kahui says.
“When I’m talking, he’s looking me in the eye and if he couldn’t understand what I was saying or he understood what I was saying but it was coming out wrong, he’d sorta just give me a little shake of the head.
“He usually picked up what I was throwing down and helped me out.”
Kahui and his family readily embraced Japanese culture, however.
Two of Kahui and wife Amy’s kids children were born in Japan and despite Amy and the kids now living on the Gold Coast, Kahui’s daughters still embrace their early years in Japan.
“When my daughter goes to school it’s quite funny because she always says to everybody ‘I’m Japanese, I was born in Japan, I’m Japanese’ – but with curly blonde hair and blue eyes, she doesn’t look it.”
Despite the fact that Kahui is able to get back to Australia every few weeks during the season, splitting the family up understandably hasn’t been easy and you get the feeling that Kahui won’t be spending too many more seasons in Japan, away from his wife and kids.
Could a return to New Zealand and the All Blacks ever be on the cards then?
“I’ve been asked pretty much every year I’ve been here to come home,” Kahui reveals.
Perhaps one more year with Waikato’s mighty Mooloo could be on the horizon in the future.
This is the third in a three-part series on Richard Kahui – his life before, during and after he achieved his dream of becoming an All Black. Catch up on parts one and two.
WATCH: Former Waikato coach Warren Gatland will be linking up with the Chief next year to coach the Super Rugby side.
Comments on RugbyPass
What a load of bollocks. The author has forgotten to mention the fact that the Crusaders have a huge injury toll with top world class players out. Not to mention the fact that they are obviously in a transition period. No this will not spark a slow death for NZ rugby, but it does mean there will be a new Super Rugby champion. Anyone who knows anything about NZ rugby knows that there is some serious talent here, it just isn’t all at the Crusaders.
1 Go to commentsI wouldn’t spend the time on Nawaqanitawase! No point in having him filling in a jersey when he’s committed to leave Union. Give the jersey to a young prospect who will be here in the future.
4 Go to commentsIt was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis 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.
5 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.
4 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 comments