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All Black backrow to leave New Zealand
By Dejan Kalinic
All Blacks and Highlanders loose forward Liam Squire will leave New Zealand at the end of the season to join Japanese club NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.
Squire has played 23 Tests for New Zealand and has agreed to a two-year deal in Japan.
The 27-year-old, a veteran of 44 Super Rugby games, said he was keen to leave the Highlanders on the back of a successful season.
"It seems like the right time to go. I have really loved my time in New Zealand with the Tasman Mako and in particular down here with the Highlanders," Squire said in a statement on Monday.
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"It's a club that gave me a chance and I appreciate the support I have had in the south. I am certainly keen to have a really good last season with the guys."
Squire made his Test debut against Wales in June 2016 and quickly established himself as a regular for the world champions.
All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen is excited by what Squire will bring to his team in 2019, particular with the Rugby World Cup starting in September.
"Liam has grown into an outstanding rugby player since coming into the All Blacks in 2016 and we again look forward to seeing how he goes this year," he said.
"His physicality, pace and skills are a real point of difference and he's a really well-rounded player.
"We wish him all the best for his Japanese adventure next year."
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McKenzie is better than Barrett , but not better than Richie Mo'unga. Richie regularly outplayed DMac in Super Rugby. , as he did in the 2023 Final in Hamilton. I remember the 2021 Aotearoa Super Rugby Final here in CHCH. Mo'unga took him to the cleaners. McKenzie is a fine footballer , but at best a hybrid 10 . Fergus Burke , ( now playing in England ), who made a big difference when he came back late in the Crusaders season , is a better 10 than DMac. I also think 140 game + Crusader Matt Todd was always a better no 7 than Sam Cane.A big part of 3 title winning teams when South African teams were still in the comp. How many titles did the Chiefs win in that period of time?
Go to commentsAre there actually any japanese at all in the courageous flowers?
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