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All Black Harry Plummer ends World Cup hopes with Top 14 deal
By Josh Raisey
ASM Clermont Auvergne have confirmed the signing of Blues and New Zealand fly-half Harry Plummer ahead of next season.
The 26-year-old has agreed a three-year deal at the Stade Marcel-Michelin and will make the move after completing the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season with the Blues, where they will be looking to retain their title.
Plummer earned his first and only cap for the All Blacks in the penultimate round of The Rugby Championship against Australia in Sydney, making a four-minute cameo from the bench in the 28-31 victory.
He was a member of the All Blacks XV for their northern hemisphere tour over the past month, starting in the No 10 jersey in the 24-38 win over Munster at Thomond Park.
The move to the Top 14 will now render Plummer ineligible to represent the All Blacks, quashing any hopes of playing at the 2027 World Cup with his deal in France running until 2028.
"Harry was our first choice, the priority target for recruitment in the 2024-25 season," Clermont head coach Christophe Urios said (translated by Google).
"We were looking for an international-level player, capable of adapting to the offensive style of play that we want to implement with both experience and still room for improvement. His profile will allow him to adapt to northern hemisphere rugby and in particular that of our championship. Harry ticks all the boxes!
"He also has excellent footwork and great physical qualities that make him a solid defender and a weapon capable of attacking the confrontation zone in the early stages of play. Like most New Zealand players, he has a technique and rugby culture that will benefit the entire group. He is really THE player we wanted to help us build the next cycle of ASM. We are convinced that he will be a major player!"
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Latest Comments
I think this debate is avoiding the elephant in the room. Money. According to the URC chief executive Martin Anayi, the inclusion of SA teams has doubled the income of the URC. There is no doubt that the SA teams benefit from the URC but so do the other countries' teams. Perhaps it doesn't affect a club like Leinster but the less well off clubs benefit hugely from South African games' TV income. I don't think SA continued inclusion in the URC is a slam dunk. They don't hold all the cards by a long way - but they do have an ace in the hole. The Ace of Diamonds.
Go to commentsDon't think you've watched enough. I'll take him over anything I's seen so far. But let's see how the future pans out. I'm quietly confident we have a row of 10's lined uo who would each start in many really good teams.
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