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NZR announce the first bumper deal for All Black captain-in-waiting
By Online Editors
All Blacks captain-in-waiting Sam Whitelock has signed a long-term deal with the world champions in a momentous deal for New Zealand Rugby.
Crusaders lock Whitelock added four years to his contract, committing himself through to the 2023 World Cup in France.
The 30-year-old is regarded as the man most likely to take over as New Zealand skipper when incumbent Kieran Read stands aside after this year's World Cup in Japan.
Whitelock has been a successful skipper of the Crusaders over the last two seasons, leading them to back-to-back Super Rugby crowns.
He has led the All Blacks five times in Tests, all resulting in wins.
One of the world's premier forwards, Whitelock can expect to be a central figure in All Blacks teams through the next World Cup cycle and should strongly challenge the world record for Test longevity if he remains injury free.
Having played 108 Tests since his debut as a 21-year-old in 2010, five more seasons in the top flight would push him well past 150 caps. The current world record-holder with 148 Tests is former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.
A clause in Whitelock's contract will allow him to take up a short-term contract with Japanese club Panasonic, beginning at the end of this year.
He will skip next year's Super Rugby season and return to New Zealand after his Japan commitments finish in May 2020.
NZR chief executive Steve Tew said Whitelock would be given dispensation to bypass selection regulations and be eligible immediately for the All Blacks upon return.
“We know our players have a number of choices to make when it comes to where they play their rugby and we have to be flexible when it comes to renegotiating with our leading players, and that’s what we have done with Sam," Tew said.
He described Whitelock's retention as crucial in the fight to keep top Kiwi players at home.
Among those still to commit beyond this year are influential five-eighth Beauden Barrett and lock Brodie Retallick, who has formed a world-class second-row partnership with Whitelock in recent seasons.
Whitelock was grateful to have the chance to step away from the intensity of New Zealand Rugby for six months.
“Ultimately, this decision allows me to take some time with my family to experience a new rugby environment in Japan, before coming back refreshed and ready for the remainder of 2020 and beyond," he said.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen hailed Whitelock's retention.
"He has been a hugely respected leader in our group for some time now," he said.
"He’s a deep thinker on the game, cares passionately about the All Blacks and has done incredibly well in the handful of Tests which he has captained so far."
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Latest Comments
Yeah nar I pretty much agree with that sentiment, wasn't just about the lineout though.
Yeah, I think it's the future of SR, even TRC. Graham above just now posting about how good a night it was with a dbl header of ENGvSA and NZvFrance, and now I don't want to kick SA or Argentina out of TRC but it would be great if in this next of the woods 2 more top teams could come in to create more of these sort of nights (for rugby's appeal). Often Arg and SA and both travel here and you get those games but more often doesn't work out right.
Obviously a long way off but USA and Japan are the obvious two. First thing we need to do is get Eddie Jones kicked out of Japan so they can start improving again and then get a couple of US teams in SRP (even if one its just a US based and augmented Jaguares).
It will start off the whole conferences are crap debate again (which I will continue to argue vehemently against), but imagine a 6 team Pacific conference, Tokyo Sunwolves (drafted from Tokyo JRLO teams), Tokyo All Stars (made up of best remaining foreign players and overseas drafts), ALL Nihon (best of local non Tokyo based talent, inc China/Korea etc, with mainland Japan), a could of West Coast american franchises and perhaps a second self PI driven Hawai'i based team, or Jagaures. So I see a short NFL like 3 or 4 month comp as fitting best, maybe not even a full round, NZvAUSvPAC, all games taking place within a 6hr window. Model for NZ will definitely still require a competitive and funded NPC!
On the Crusaders, I liked last years ending with Grace on the bench (ovbiously form dependent but thats how it ended) and Lio-Willie at 8. I could have Blackadder trying to be a 7 but think balance will be used with him at 6 and Kellow as 7. Scott Barrett is an international 6 sized player. It is just NZ style/model that pushes him into the tight, I reckon he'd be a great loose player, and saders have Strange and Cahill as bigger players (plus that change could draw someone like Darry back). Same with Haig now, hes not grown yet but Barrett hight and been playing 6, now that the Highlanders have only chosen two locks he'll be playing lock, and that is going to change his growth trajectory massively, rather than seeing him grow like an International 6.
Go to commentsDan Carter is the leading points scorer and leading points per game person for a player with significant tests. 2s RWC winner and member of the games greatest ever team. It's not even close. The only question of GOAT for rugby is whether McCaw deserves it given Carter's numbers.
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