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'We got a couple of offers, and one was pretty close' - The reason that kept Aaron Smith from moving to Japan
New Zealand Rugby has successfully fought off interest from overseas club to secure star halfback Aaron Smith with a two-year contract extension that will see him stay in the country until the end of the 2021 season.
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Locking in Smith for another two seasons is a victory that should be celebrated within NZR circles as the lure of signing big-money deals in Europe and Japan has proven to be difficult for some of the country’s leading players to turn down in recent times.
The Highlanders have already felt the burn of the pound, Euro and yen as Ben Smith (Pau), Waisake Naholo (London Irish), Liam Squire (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes), Luke Whitelock (Pau) and Jackson Hemopo (Mitsubishi Dynaboars) have all committed themselves to foreign clubs following this year’s World Cup.
Other high-profile stars set to depart New Zealand at the end of this year include Kieran Read (Toyota Verblitz), Owen Franks (Northampton), Nehe Milner-Skudder (Toulon), Jordan Taufua (Leicester Tigers), Matt Proctor (Northampton) and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Wasps).
82-test veteran Smith said it was an easy decision to re-sign with NZR given his passion for both the All Blacks and the Highlanders, but that didn’t stop offshore clubs from trying to persuade him to leave.
“If I’m honest, me and Warren, my player manager, we sort of talked a little bit about it,” Smith told RugbyPass when asked about interest from overseas teams shortly after the announcement of his re-signing.
“I let him do the bargaining stuff, but I was very keen on staying and cementing my future here. That’s probably why it took a while, because they [weren’t] a really big threat for me to want to go.
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“We got a couple of offers, and one was pretty close, that gave us something that me and Teagan [Smith’s partner] had talked about, but I’ve got some dreams and things I want to achieve in New Zealand. That was a real big driver for me.”
When asked to elaborate on where the tempting offer came from, Smith hinted towards an unnamed Japanese club, stating: “They eat sushi, maybe.”
Regardless of where in the world he was offered to go, no offer could beat the prospect of becoming a father, husband, business owner and accomplishing goals in the international arena for the All Blacks, all of which were motives for Smith to stay put.
“It might have taken a while to make the decision, but [I] didn’t really want to go,” he said.
“A lot of things are lining up off-field, which is great for us. Me and my partner have a gym here in Dunedin, we’re expecting a little baby, and I’m not really ready to leave, so no, it didn’t really come into my mind, but I’m glad it’s sorted out now, and I can focus on trying to have a really big year this year.”
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Prior to Smith’s baby, wedding and business plans, 2019 was already shaping up to be a significant year for him as he prepares to help defend New Zealand’s back-to-back world titles in five months’ time.
That preparation took a hit last week, though, as the 30-year-old succumbed to an ankle injury in the Highlanders’ 33-26 loss to the Blues that was initially expected to rule him out of action for up to six weeks.
However, Smith, who donned a moon boot as he spoke to reporters on Monday, is adamant he will be back in action within a month’s time.
“It feels pretty good,” he said.
“The boot’s mainly so I can move around as fast as I want to move. I don’t think that it will be six weeks, but, with the big year that we’ve got ahead, I’ll be doing what the medical staff recommend and not try to rush it, but I definitely want to get back out there and help my teammates.”
Offsetting the short-term loss of Smith is the return of key midfielder Rob Thompson, who hasn’t featured for the Highlanders since sustaining an ankle injury during his side’s 36-31 win over the Reds in February.
Highlanders assistant coach Glenn Delaney confirmed the 27-year-old is in line for selection for this week’s clash against the Hurricanes in Dunedin.
“Rob’s back at training, so it’s nice to have him back on the field properly,” Delaney said.
“It’s been a while since he’s been available, so looks like we’ve got a fairly full deck to pick from.”
Watch – Michael Cheika talks to RugbyPass:
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments