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International

'The guy is not a fly-by-nighter': Plea made for Richie Mo'unga's All Black eligibility

Ben Smith

Published: 33 days ago | 13 May 2026 19:46 CDT

Richie Mo'unga of New Zealand arrives at the stadium prior to the Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France on October 28, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Ramos - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

New Zealand commentator and rugby pundit Scotty Stevenson has made a passionate case for the involvement of Richie Mo’unga with the All Blacks as the No.10 looks set to be sidelined under the eligibility rules.

Speaking on his Scotty and Izzy Show on Sport Nation, Stevenson spoke of the irony between Ardie Savea and Richie Mo’unga, who both played in Japan Rugby League One this year but will be treated differently.

“On the one hand, you’ve got New Zealand Rugby standing up and saying how desperate they are to win games or rugby, to represent the best players available. On the other hand, they are putting up every hurdle they possibly can,” he said on Sport Nations’ Scotty and Izzy show.

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“Here’s the irony here. Because Ardie Savea goes on a ‘legitimate’ sabbatical to Japan, he gets to come back in and be eligible straight away.

“Richie Mo’unga took a deal to go to Japan where he’s shining, he’s played 52 Test matches, he was in the All Blacks for six years and yet he has got to jump across every hurdle possible if he is to be considered to play for the All Blacks.

The worry is that the delay in his return combined with the regime’s new game plan and style of play will leave Mo’unga far behind the eight ball.

“If he misses the July series, that’s three Tests. If he misses the South African series, that’s four more Tests. If he misses the Australian series because he’s not up to speed with what the All Blacks have done all year, that’s nine Tests,” he said.

“Nine Tests in the penultimate year before a World Cup, then you bring him into the All Blacks. It is the most ridiculous stance I could possibly imagine.

“The guy is not a fly-by-nighter, he was a fundamental part of that team over a six-year period, you can make concessions.”

Ex-All Black Israel Dagg predicted that Mo’unga will play and a deal will be done to make it happen.

“I think he plays, I can’t understand why he wouldn’t,” Dagg said.

“He’s in the country, he’s made his decision to come home, he’s going to be playing here on our shores.

“There’s no way in hell I cannot see him playing, they will find some way.”

Incoming head coach Dave Rennie confirmed during his press conference last week that Mo’unga would not have been used in July as the All Blacks play three home Tests in this year’s new Nations Championship.

The plan was to have Mo’unga involved with the squad and on the tour in South Africa to fight for a Test spot, but NZR CEO Stuart Lancaster said that no concessions have been made.

“My thinking would have been that we wouldn’t have used him in July,” Rennie revealed.

“We’ve got good depth there, here, with the guys who are currently playing. But the thinking would be that Richie would be in the group, getting his head around how we want to play the game and the detail within that.

“Then, include him in the squad for Africa and probably play him against the Stormers, first game, and let him earn the right to fight for a Test spot. But obviously, the criteria mean that we can’t do that.”

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Comments

21 Comments

GRB13 32 days ago

The so called NZ media need to get the hell over this. These were the rules set by NZ Rugby not the IRB. It’s pretty laughable that people are so desperate for him to go they need people get injured.

Mzilikazi 33 days ago

I always marvel at the utter stupidity of nations that won’t/don’t pick their best teams. NZ has got away with it for years past but the noose is tightening now. Australia has suffered significantly for not picking players like Skelton….wasted his best years. England have left out Jack Willis, one the best opensides in the world. Meanwhile South Africa pick from a worldwide pool and prosper !

JW 33 days ago

What, you don’t believe JD’s articles that the Gitau Law was the Wallabies downfall Miz?

How many players do you think it would take for Ireland to change their rule?

TokoRFC 33 days ago

Not selecting him while he’s in Japan is one thing

But not selecting him once he’s actually back (and getting paid big bucks to be back) is utter madness.

Over the sideline 33 days ago

It works Miz. 4 of top 5 in world select from home. Protecting their domestic comps I guess.

If I think back over history I can think of very few who “got away” from NZR.

The bigger concern in NZ is the middle to lower youngsters taking their OS opportunities, where-as France, Ireland, England don’t have that same issue.

Wayneo 33 days ago

NZR playing stiff upper lip while knowing there is a back door open for RM to play in the Biltong vs. Marmite Bowl (Named after the beloved national snacks of both countries)

TokoRFC 33 days ago

Biltong vs. Marmite Bowl

😂

KwAussie 33 days ago

What a load of rubbish. Richie was, repeat was, a very good player for the ABs, Not without his faults and while he could do some special things he also made a lot of mistakes. He needs to come back and prove that not only is he as good as what he was, he also needs to demonstrate that he doesn’t make those same mistakes.

BH 33 days ago

Just get Mo’unga to play in a club game and then a NPC game in late July, then do a good old Switcheroo/Switcheroux with an “injured” player from the initial AB’s squad, and then he can play in South Africa. Sweet as bro!

SouthernRuckby 33 days ago

Don’t care what Scotty says. Dan Carter has more credibility, and as far as he’s concerned we should be playing the inexperienced on tour. How else are we meant to develop the next generation of 10s if all we keep doing is rotating between Mounga, Barrett, and McKenzie? All it would take is a couple injuries and we’re incredibly undercooked there.

KwAussie 33 days ago

absolutely moving forward while looking to the past is never a good idea

Jordon 33 days ago

For a start, saying “penultimate year before a world cup” is a tautology and an experienced broadcaster should know better.

Mounga had the chance to come back and be eligible for the African tour but chose for a 3 year contract in Japan. He’s now signed to play one full year in NZ. Sorry but that is a fly-by-nighter.

The difference between ardie and mounga is their contracts which are pretty clear regarding their eligibility for the all blacks. At this stage, it’s just something for the media to talk about and make content for.

And as an aside, I know izzy and scotty are the evening slot but does izzy need to be steamed for every show?

JW 33 days ago

Savea goes on a ‘legitimate’ sabbatical to Japan, he gets to come back in

By legitimate sabbatical you mean he wanted to represent the All Blacks. Richie didn’t want to represent the All Blacks. So yes, one is in the other is out.

he has got to jump across every hurdle possible if he is to be considered to play for the All Blacks

No, he just has to committ.

They can make concessions for sure, neither NZR nor Mounga foresaw how valuable he would turn out to be after he signed to leave. It’s a good reminder to Fehi and NZR that they should do everything they can to get out of the Newcastle deal now.

NZR offered to bring Mounga back straight away, as if he had been on sabbatical all alone, I think that was a fair and ammicble attempt. But he rejected it.

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