TJ Perenara in career-best fitness as long-awaited return nears
TJ Perenara hasn’t been seen in an official Super Rugby game since 2022. The halfback will be absent once more in the Hurricanes’ round two Super Rugby Pacific matchup with the Reds, but a return to action is nearing.
The long road to recovery appears to have only strengthened the 32-year-old’s desire to represent his club and country again, denying overseas offers to re-sign with New Zealand Rugby for the 2024 and 2025 seasons shortly after a second Achilles surgery.
In his absence, the halfback landscape in New Zealand has changed drastically. Aaron Smith and Brad Weber have left the country, and Hurricanes teammate Cam Roigard has cemented himself as the top prospect in the No. 9 jersey, with a flurry of other youngsters throwing their hats in the ring.
While a Super Rugby Pacific season is the 80-test veteran’s immediate challenge, he’s making no secret of his ambitions beyond that.
“I have massive aspirations to play for the All Blacks and represent our country,” Perenara told the Front Row Daily Show. “It’s the pinnacle of the game in my eyes, playing for the All Blacks, and to get back there would be awesome.
“Obviously, my first focus now is to play well for the Hurricanes and to help us win a Super Rugby Championship but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t aspiring to be an All Black.”
After 15 months of watching from the sidelines, Perenara is giving himself every opportunity to come back firing.
“I’ve had a really good medical team around me. My physio Nic who has done most of the work with me, she’s been awesome throughout this journey and I owe a lot to her. Our trainers throughout the [Wellington] Lions, All Blacks and Hurricanes, have all committed a lot of time to me and I thank them for allowing me to get to where I am now.
“I’ve played a couple of (pre-season) games now so, hopefully, I’ll be available to play in the top side next week.
“I’ve been playing for 13-14 years now which is a blessing, and I love it, but having the game taken away from me for 15 months has maybe given me a new love for it, and a new appreciation for how privileged and how much I cherish this game.”
Boasting more than 50 international caps more than any other halfback in the country, Perenara’s experience is invaluable to his Hurricanes teammates, and one in particular is getting the most out of it.
Reon Paul is Perenara’s nephew, a midfielder for Bay of Plenty in the NPC and a member of the Hurricanes’ wider training group. He has moved now in with his uncle.
“To have my nephew live with me, I drive him to training every day, and we’re working together every day, and to see him in the early part of his professional career, it gives me so much motivation to continue to try to be the best I can be to be the example for my nephew.
“[To show him] this is what we have to do in order to get to where we want to get to.
“It doesn’t mean you’re going to make it. Just because you work the hardest doesn’t always mean you are going to be the best, but it gives you a good opportunity to get to where you want to get to.
“I’m not as talented as he is. He’s bigger, faster, stronger, he’s got all of that, but his application to want to work harder, get better, is something that has been the foundation of my career and I see that in him.
“I’d love to get out there and play top sides with him.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments