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TJ Perenara set to re-sign with New Zealand Rugby – report
By Finn Morton
Injured Hurricanes halfback and 80-Test All Blacks veteran TJ Perenara is set to re-sign with New Zealand Rugby on a two-year deal.
According to Newshub’s Ollie Ritchie, Perenara has “knocked back overseas offers” to stay in New Zealand until the end of 2026.
Perenara, who ruptured his Achilles during the dying stages of last year’s dramatic draw with England at Twickenham, apparently has a “burning desire” to don the coveted black jersey again.
“Getting a taste of Test match rugby again at the end of the year definitely poured a bit of fuel back onto that fire,” Perenara told Newshub earlier in 2023.
“I honestly believe I’ve got a lot more to give.
“My desire to compete on the world stage is stronger than it has been for a long time.”
The All Blacks have some world-class halfbacks at their disposal at the moment, but the makeup of the national squad will look a bit different after this year’s Rugby World Cup.
Legendary halfback Aaron Smith will play his last Test for New Zealand at the World Cup, and Brad Weber is also set for another challenge overseas – signing for Stade Francais in France.
But even with 80 Test matches to his name, Perenara faces an uphill battle in order to return to the international arena.
Rising star Cam Roigard made the No. 9 jersey his own during Perenara’s absence at the Hurricanes, and appears likely to retain that role moving forward.
But Perenara isn’t going down without a fight.
“I know my body, I understand how my body works, it’s feeling good now,” he also told Newshub.
“I feel really confident about my recovery.
“I love the challenge of trying to wake up and be better than I was the day before, that could be one thing, like today I’m walking better than I walked yesterday and it’s starting to become more natural.”
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Look there are a few unarguable facts here that are very clear. SARU was close to bankruptcy with SR, bailed out by the Lions and they need the URC and EPCR. Inclusion of SA teams in URC has been a great for for ALL concerned, from a rugby perspective and financially, moreover there is massive growth yet to come. The GP is in financial trouble and this will be the catalyst for EPCR change to further cement the Boks.
If this all plays out with even greater rewards for the urc AND the Top14 & GP via EPCR, the 6N will become 7N. Nz and Aus NEED to get their version firing with Japan & the PI’s, otherwise they will find themselves increasingly regressing…
Go to commentsPerofeta came back and was available for the eoyt right? Or was that why Love was in the squad (but got injured in the last week)?
It was such a frustrating year. Perofeta looked a service stop gap until Jordan was fit, but then got injured. Plummer was selected because of Pero's injury and dmac shat the bed in the second half in Australia but Clarke (?) got himself binned at the 65 min mark so Plummer couldn't come on (at least with the risk adverse Razors thinking) when he was planned to.
So many other exciting opportunities that could have happened without injuries, but then theyre probably balanced by knowing Sititi probably wouldn't have been given a chance without multiple injuries happened.
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