Ruben Love no longer seen primarily as a fullback by Hurricanes

Ruben Love’s showings in the No.10 jersey last year have convinced his Hurricanes coaches that he’s not just capable of playing there, but he’s better suited to the primary playmaking role than fullback.

The 24-year-old All Black is entering his sixth Super Rugby season, and while his rookie season was spent with the No.10 jersey on his back, each of the following campaigns has seen him play the bulk of his minutes at fullback.

A stretch of five games at 10 towards the back end of the last Super season coincided with some returns from injury and a compelling return to title-contending form for the Hurricanes, but Love then returned to the backfield with Brett Cameron’s return from injury.

The young playmaker’s Test season included two starts at fullback and two bench appearances, where he ended up on the wing. Love’s lack of playing time was a heavily debated topic among the Kiwi rugby faithful, but ultimately, the world-class trio of Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, and Will Jordan kept him at bay.

Ex-All Blacks coach Scott Robertson did, however, make a curious statement about Love’s positional future towards the end of the last Test season, saying, “I’m sure the Hurricanes will have him closer to the nine next year.”

While Robertson wouldn’t offer more context around the statement, Hurricanes assistant coach and former All Black Cory Jane confirmed its accuracy this week.

Asked by Martin Devlin of DSPN if Love would be the full-time 10 for the ‘Canes, Jane replied, “I don’t know about full-time. We might push Jordie Barrett to the back every now and then. I don’t know if he’ll like that. 

“I originally saw Ruben as a 15 going to 10, and now, after watching him play the last six or so games for us last year in control, I probably see him as a 10 that can play 15.

“Which is cool for us, and cool for any team that he’s going to after us, like the All Blacks, because I think he’s good enough to do both.

“He’s really shown over those last six games that he can really run a team. He’s got the skill set to do it. I do like him at 10.

“But we’ve also got Brett Cameron, who’s a pretty bloody good 10 as well. So, it’ll be interesting to see what happens.”

Cameron, a one-time All Black, who’s had an injury-plagued three seasons at the Hurricanes since returning from Japan, has been the club’s preferred 10 when healthy.

In Cameron’s absence last year, a breakout season from 23-year-old playmaker Harry Godfrey was cut short by a lower leg injury in round five. The youngster returned to the field during the NPC season, only to rupture his ACL, sidelining him for the entire 2026 Super Rugby season.

Jane said Godfrey has been making the most of his downtime while rehabbing the injury, watching plenty of northern hemisphere rugby and looking to expand his rugby IQ.

Whoever starts at 10 for the Canes will partner rising star halfback Cam Roigard, who earned World Rugby Dream Team honours for his 2025 Test campaign.

The Hurricanes are hoping their 25-year-old star can stay healthy after recent patella and stress fracture injuries.

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“He is, like most halfbacks in the world, very competitive,” Jane said. “He just wants to be so good, and he has input in lots of our rugby.

“He’s got a massive kick on him, sometimes he can kick it from Wellington, and it’ll end up in Hawkes Bay. He’s got a great pass, but his running game is just unbelievable, and that can get him out of trouble every now and again, and it can get us out of trouble.

“We haven’t seen too much of him because he’s been on his break, but he normally comes back because of the competitiveness. And he usually tries to fit into the system, and like all the All Blacks boys, you fit into what’s here, but then you put your sugar on top and your little bit of flair.

“So, we’re excited about him. He is a big part of what the Hurricanes do, and he’s a big part of what New Zealand does because of the threat that he poses.

“He had an unbelievable year for us last year, so hopefully he’ll have another one.”