Report: Tuivasa-Sheck to reject league and stay in union after World Cup

Blues and All Black midfielder Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is reportedly set to reject a return to the NRL after this year's World Cup in favour of staying in rugby union.

A report by the Sydney Morning Herald understands that the 29-year-old is favouring a move to Japan Rugby League One over a return to the Warriors, who he won a Dally M medal with in 2018.

His former NRL club, who said they would welcome him back after his union stint, have "since been told that Tuivasa-Sheck’s preference is to head to Japan, where he stands to earn around $1m for a 16-week season".

The lighter playing load combined with the healthy financial offers strengthens the appeal of the Japanese League which has seen many top internationals head over since the last Rugby World Cup.

More and more internationals from England, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand have been taking deals in the land of the rising sun since 2019 and a host of All Blacks will arrive in 2024.

All Black halves pair Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith have already announced deals with Toyota Verblitz from 2024 onwards, while Richie Mo'unga and Shannon Frizell are heading to Toshiba Brave Lupus.

Blues teammate Rieko Ioane has also been linked with a move to the Ricoh Black Rams after the Rugby World Cup while Ardie Savea is taking a sabbatical to play for the Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

Tuivasa-Sheck is off-contract with NZR after 2023 after making the switch to union in 2021.

Should the former NRL superstar take up a deal in Japan it will spell the end of his brief All Black career with NZR's policy against overseas selection.

The NZR board recently considered a change but opted against it to avoid 'opening a can of worms' that would lead to more tinkering down the track.

Covid restrictions prevented Tuivasa-Sheck from playing regularly for Auckland in that year's NPC but in 2022 after a solid season for the Blues he made his All Black debut against Ireland and has three caps, including a start against Japan in November last year.

His Test against the Brave Blossoms was his most impressive showing in the black jersey and may have impressed the local suitors.