All Blacks star Caleb Clarke confirms playing future amid speculation of NRL switch
All Blacks star Caleb Clarke has confirmed he will remain in rugby union despite being the subject of a cross-code rumours earlier this year.
It was announced on Monday that Clarke has signed a two-year contract extension with New Zealand Rugby [NZR] and the Blues in a deal that will keep him at both organisations until 2024.
Confirmation of Clarke's playing future comes two months after he signalled a desire to play rugby league following next year's World Cup in France.
“That’s definitely one thing that I’d love to do," the barnstorming 23-year-old wing told AAP in April about the prospect of playing in the NRL.
“I’m a big Rabbitohs supporter and I talk to the Rabbitohs boys every now and then.
"So yeah, I’d love to and I don’t know when but it’ll definitely be something that I want to tick off as a life goal.”
Those aspirations have been put on hold for the time being, though, as Clarke will remain a rugby union player for at least the next two years.
A five-test international who took the world by storm when he starred in his maiden All Blacks campaign two years ago, Clarke has established himself as a key figure in the New Zealand rugby landscape.
Formerly a New Zealand Schools representative and 2016 national schoolboy champion with Mount Albert Grammar School, Clarke was an NPC title-winner with Auckland in 2018, the same year in which he made his debut for the Blues.
He was also part of the New Zealand U20 side that claimed the World Rugby U20 Championship the year beforehand, and helped the All Blacks Sevens claim the truncated World Sevens Series title for the 2019-20 season.
While he didn't feature for the Blues in last year's Super Rugby Trans-Tasman success as he unsuccessfully attempted to play for the All Blacks Sevens at the Tokyo Olympics, Clarke has made a strong impression with the Auckland-based franchise.
After initially breaking onto the scene with a standout showing at the 2018 Brisbane Tens, which the Blues won, Clarke has gone on to amass 32 caps in his five season with the Super Rugby Pacific side, scoring 12 tries in the process.
His performances for the club earned him a test debut in 2020, and Blues head coach Leon MacDonald hopes to see more of the same from Clarke over the next two years.
“Caleb possess qualities that are so exciting in the modern young player,” MacDonald said in a statement released on Monday.
“He is a superb athlete, a trained sprinter who possesses speed and power and outstanding ball-skills. Best of all, he is an outstanding young man, dedicated athlete and good person.”
Clarke, who is currently part of the All Blacks squad preparing to face Ireland at Eden Park on Saturday, added that it was an easy decision to re-sign with the Blues in a deal that sees him re-commit to Auckland at provincial level as well.
“I would not want to be anywhere else than to be at the Blues. We have a fantastic environment and the boys work so hard together and have a lot of fun at the same time," he said.
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No just because the personal is much better than last year. I've shown no antagonism of Crusader players, you must be confusing me with someone else.
I have critized Razor for picking players he knows occasionally?
I said I'm not surprised because of his style, he's more a grinder player like Cane, not going to show up on peoples radar until you see how bad the other choices are. This year players like Clarke have been on fire and just show a bit more.
Are you one of those posters continually taking it easy on Razor because he doesn't have his Crusaders stars available? Do you think the rugby world is going to up to him suddenly once Mo'unga returns? lol
Go to commentsJohn you have been beating this drum for a couple of years, if you get proven right get back to us.
The last recent and decent Aussie coach was Ewen McKenzie, he was undermined and forced out by a couple of slimy Aussie players who were given a free pass when they should have been disciplined.
So our history since McQueen is very checkered and it seems to make little difference whether we have an Aussie coach or a Kiwi coach. The players have been entitled for a long time and we had to hit bottom to get them back into reality and to stop thinking it is all about them.
Cheika was an OK coach but his 'go our and destroy the opposition' tactic worked for a while and then didn't.
Please give me a list of great Aussie coaches that I have missed.
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