Clermont confirm signing of jilted All Black on two-year deal

Two-cap All Black Pita Gus Sowakula has ostensibly given up hope on ever playing for the New Zealand national side again, signing a two-year deal with Clermont.

Sowakula earned an All Blacks debut earlier this year off the back of an impressive season with the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific. While Sowakula’s form tapered off towards the end of the campaign, his early-season performances were enough to force his way into the All Blacks squad and onto the bench for NZ’s first two matches of 2022.

Sowakula’s tenure with the squad came to an end just weeks later, however, with Shannon Frizell replacing the 28-year-old ahead of the Rugby Championship. Sowakula’s ejection from the squad was never explained by the selectors but RugbyPass understands off-field misbehaviour contributed to the change in hearts from Ian Foster and co, while forwards coach John Plumtree’s departure may have also not played into his favour.

Sowakula was also left out of the All Blacks XV squad picked later in the year, suggesting he was no longer considered one of the top 11 loose forwards in the country, while the likes of Ethan Blackadder and Cullen Grace will also be on the selectors’ radar.

“Yes, I do,” Taranaki coach Neil Barnes told Stuff when asked whether he believed Sowakula could still break into the All Blacks World Cup squad. “Every coach has their own opinions on what they want out of a player, and what they look for. For me, Pits has got a point of difference above other players.

“It is what he can do with the ball in hand, and his defence as well. If Pita Gus is playing Super, and playing at a really high level, he has got as good a chance as anyone else.”

That looks unlikely now, however, with Sowakula effectively removing himself from the selection equation.

The blockbusting loosie’s fall down the pecking order has undoubtedly contributed to his decision to head overseas, with Sowakula set to depart New Zealand at the end of next year’s NPC season in October.

Sowakula debuted for the Chiefs in 2018 as an injury replacement and has since gone on to make almost 50 appearances for the franchise. In the past two years he has established himself as one of the best ball-running forwards in the country.

Although Sowakula is eligible to play for Fiji, his two appearances for the All Blacks will prevent him from representing the nation of his birth until three years have passed since his last match in a black jersey.