Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Suntory Sungoliath confirm signing of All Blacks star Damian McKenzie

(Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/CPS Images/Getty Images)

Japanese club Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath has confirmed the arrival of All Blacks star Damian McKenzie for the upcoming League One season.

ADVERTISEMENT

McKenzie is off-contract with New Zealand Rugby [NZR] in 2021, and a new deal with the national union is yet to be confirmed, meaning uncertainty reigns over when he will return to Kiwi shores in a playing capacity.

The 26-year-old playmaker wasn’t named in next year’s Chiefs squad that was unveiled along with the other Super Rugby Pacific rosters on Monday.

Video Spacer

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster reacts to the 40-25 loss to France in Paris

Video Spacer

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster reacts to the 40-25 loss to France in Paris

McKenzie’s departure to Suntory had long been rumoured but not publicly announced until hours after the Super Rugby Pacific squads were revealed, although Chiefs CEO Michael Collins confirmed earlier this year that the franchise’s star man wouldn’t return in 2022.

McKenzie follows in the footsteps of All Blacks teammate Beauden Barrett by signing with Suntory after the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year played for the club in this year’s Top League, which has been rebranded to Japan Rugby League One.

Barrett starred for Suntory during his six-month sabbatical with the club, helping guide the club to a runner-up finish as they fell short to Robbie Deans’ Saitama Wild Knights in the final.

McKenzie won’t be the only player who featured for the All Blacks this year playing in next season’s League One, as lock Patrick Tuipulotu has joined Toyota Verblitz on a sabbatical as part of his deal with NZR.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tuipulotu joins Barrett, TJ Perenara, Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock as All Blacks to take sabbaticals in Japan in recent years, but, given he is soon to be off-contract with NZR and is yet to re-sign, McKenzie’s move abroad isn’t of that nature.

Confirmation of McKenzie’s departure to Japan comes at the end of a season where he fell behind Jordie Barrett in the All Blacks’ fullback pecking order despite starting the year as the first-choice option in the No 15 jersey.

Since his test debut in 2016, McKenzie has made 40 appearances for the All Blacks and has played 95 times for the Chiefs over the course of seven seasons.

“I am looking forward to joining the Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath in the inaugural Japan Rugby League One competition,” McKenzie said in a statement published on the league’s website.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I can’t wait to meet my new teammates and contribute to the Sungoliath culture as well as engaging with the Japanese fans.

“I love attacking rugby and I really look forward to playing an exciting brand of rugby. Off field I look forward to experiencing the Japanese culture.

“I hope to see everyone at full stadiums soon. Arigato.”

ADVERTISEMENT
LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

P
PoppaRick 1 hour ago
The Chiefs are better than the Crusaders

It annoys when sport “Professionals “ make statements like that . The Best Team, plays their Best game in the final. The start of the Season is pure entertainment for the Fans and training for the Teams. The last 2 years in a row the Chiefs timed their run wrong and “Choked “. Not a word used when speaking about the Crusaders, EVER!!

Hamish Bidwell should put something behind his arrogant statement. He’s playing the weatherman game, he knows, if he gets it wrong, meh!

But he takes kudos for getting a 50/50 right.

Remember game #1.

Rob Penny took his front row off including Tamaiti Williams who was demolishing the Chiefs scrum and causing havoc all over the field. The Saders lost the second half and the game, meh? Yes meh! We lost Tamaiti first game last season a loss we didn’t recover from when added to Jordan, Scooter, Backadder , etc. Yet they beat The Blues in the last Round game. Oh that’s right the Chiefs ( qualified first ) then lost to the Blues, at home! With 🐄🔔S.

The Crusaders as a whole, from top down, know the season is decided at the end.

Not a team I would write off so easily.

As for the Cow Bells. If I had Chiefs supporters coming over to watch the game at mine. I would ask them to leave the bells at home, purely because they are so bloody annoying. My house my rules. Next year don’t lose in the “Finals” (joke), get the home final and tell the Crusaders to leave the horses at home (🤣🤣🤣).

I can’t wait the game will be awesome for so many reasons.

34 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING The top 5 signings of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season The Top 5 signings of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season
Search