The blockbusting wing\/ midfielder was at the top of his game when he left to play two seasons for Toulon, scoring 13 tries in 13 matches for the Crusaders as they swept to their seventh consecutive Super Rugby title.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately for Fainga\u2019anuku, who has played seven Tests, he does not qualify for an immediate return to the All Blacks because he did not meet the threshold of 70 Tests or period of long service in Super Rugby before his departure.<\/p>\n
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson does have the option of selecting Fainga\u2019anuku for the Rugby Championship, which starts with a Test against Argentina in Cordoba a week on Sunday, should he suddenly face an injury crisis, but that appears unlikely.<\/p>\n
Robertson\u2019s midfield stocks are overflowing after the retention of Timoci Tavatavanawai following the Highlander\u2019s Test debut last month. While Caleb Clarke is carrying an injury, Rieko Ioane appears set to remain on the left wing.<\/p>\n
![\"Leicester](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/leicester-faingaanuku-wins-the-ball-despite-the-intentions-o-B47AUFSTBJFAVPW2VED34FQCYE.jpg\")
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Leicester Fainga’anuku wins the ball despite the intentions of Ireland’s Mack Hansen during the 2023 World Cup quarter-final. (Source: Photosport)<\/p>\n
Emoni Narawa, Will Jordan and Ruben Love are the other outside back options, with the uncapped Leroy Carter called in as cover.<\/p>\n
This means. despite his game-breaking ability and undeniable potential value for the All Blacks in their looming Tests against South Africa at Eden Park and Wellington next month, Fainga\u2019anuku appears set to play only NPC rugby until a probable recall for the end-of-year \u201cgrand slam\u201d tour.<\/p>\n
Asked about Fainga\u2019anuku \u2014 who has signed a two-year contract with the Crusaders and New Zealand Rugby and will represent Tasman in this year\u2019s NPC \u2014 during Monday\u2019s squad announcement<\/a>, Robertson replied: \u201cThere are measures in place if we need to bring him in if there was an injury\u2026 our conversation to him is keep playing well.\u201d<\/p>\n A slight complication is that Fainga\u2019anuku has returned with a shoulder issue and did not play for the Mako in their first-round defeat to Bay of Plenty at the weekend, although the injury is not thought to be serious.<\/p>\n Pressed on NZR\u2019s eligibility protocols, Robertson would not go into detail but did say: \u201cThere are seven guidelines.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s case-by-case and there are different measures to bring players in who have been overseas and who have signed for a shorter period of time.\u201d<\/p>\n Mo\u2019unga, who battled for supremacy against Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie but became the All Blacks\u2019 first-choice No.10 before his departure to Japan club Toshiba after the 2023 World Cup, is in the same position as Fainga\u2019anuku. But Mo\u2019unga’s case will far more awkward for Robertson and NZ Rugby to explain if he returns next year as hoped.<\/p>\n Richie Mo’unga makes a break for Toshiba during the Japan One final recently. (Source: Photosport)<\/p>\n Mo\u2019unga, 31 \u2014 who continued his run of leading a team to a domestic championship recently and was recognised as the Japan One competition\u2019s MVP \u2014 has played 57 Tests and so is also short of the 70-Test threshold.<\/p>\n With Barrett, McKenzie and Love all options for the black No.10 jersey, Robertson is unlikely to be able to lean on an injury exemption to bring him straight back.<\/p>\n Chiefs’ 10 McKenzie was ineligible for the All Blacks after returning from a stint in Japan in 2022 due to the eligibility laws and may feel hard done by to see them waived for Mo’unga. <\/p>\n Putting aside the argument that Mo\u2019unga could have reached the threshold had previous coaches Sir Steve Hansen and Ian Foster put their faith in the playmaker earlier, it would be self-destructive if NZ Rugby stand firm on their policy on his return \u2013 which could be as early as May next year.<\/p>\n If the organisation, and more particularly its board, did not grant an exemption, Mo\u2019unga would miss the Nations\u2019 Cup and highly-anticipated three-Test \u201cGreatest Rivalry\u201d tour of South Africa.<\/p>\n That would make about as much sense as NZ Rugby pleading with Toshiba<\/a> to release Mo\u2019unga from the final year of his contract to allow him to return early and represent the All Blacks this year, when in reality it was NZ Rugby\u2019s own policy preventing him from doing so.<\/p>\n![\"Richie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/richie-mounga-makes-a-break-for-toshiba-during-the-japan-one-Q4RZKD6EANF2BBZ22HCHIIEYLE.jpg\")
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