NZR\u2019s current position states that unless granted a sabbatical, players must be contracted to a New Zealand-based Super Rugby Pacific side to be eligible for the All Blacks. <\/p>\n
It means those who reside overseas full-time can\u2019t be picked, or, should they choose to return to New Zealand, must meet certain criteria to return to play and are often treated on a case-by-case basis, with a hiatus often enforced. <\/p>\n
It was announced last August that Mo\u2019unga had signed an 18-month contract with NZR to return home from July, after spending the past three years with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo in Japan. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s understood Rennie and newly appointed CEO Steve Lancaster have had ongoing discussions about Mo\u2019unga\u2019s conditions. <\/p>\n
However, while NZR continues to welcome such conversations, the approach remains the same. The setting of a precedent, and the protection of the system in New Zealand, are understood to be among the reasons for the stance.<\/p>\n
Dave Rennie on Leicester Fainga’anuku as an All Blacks No. 7 | Sport Nation<\/p>\n
That\u2019s despite the All Blacks coach being keen to select the pivot for the tour to South Africa, which runs at roughly the same time as the NPC.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Canterbury open their season on August 1 against Auckland, with the opening match against the Stormers on August 7. Speaking to media on Tuesday, Rennie said he wasn\u2019t considering selecting Mo\u2019unga for the Nations Cup matches in July against France, Italy and Ireland.<\/p>\n
However, he did confirm Mo\u2019unga would have been on the plane to the Republic. \u201cWe\u2019ve got good depth there, guys who are currently playing,” Rennie said.<\/p>\n
“But the thinking would be Richie would be in the group, getting his head around that, include him in the squad to Africa and probably play him against the Stormers first game and let him earn the right to fight for a Test spot. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut obviously the criteria means he can\u2019t do that. We\u2019re still hoping to get him in so he can get his head around things.\u201d That\u2019s not to say the door is entirely shut on Mo\u2019unga for 2026. <\/p>\n
While playing NPC for Canterbury would put him in contention for the end-of-year tour, Sport Nation understands NZR wouldn\u2019t rule out allowing Mo\u2019unga to be selected earlier should injuries occur. <\/p>\n
A similar case was seen last year with Leicester Fainga’anuku when he was fast-tracked into the squad after the All Blacks suffered several injuries to their back three during the Rugby Championship. <\/p>\n
The NZR board granted approval, with it believed a similar process would occur should Mo\u2019unga, or another recommitted but overseas-based player, need to be called up. Rennie\u2019s aware it could be put on the table.<\/p>\n
Ted is back in All Blacks camp as selector | Sport Nation<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe if there are injuries there\u2019s an option to bring him in, but he\u2019s got his head around it, he\u2019s prepared to go play in the NPC.<\/p>\n
“We\u2019ve accepted that situation and understand New Zealand\u2019s mindset around it. We\u2019ll just get on with it now.\u201d <\/p>\n
One player who definitely won\u2019t be part of the 44-man squad heading to South Africa is Brodie Retallick, a man Rennie labelled as \u201cthe best player in Japan\u201d and \u201cbest lock in the world\u201d. <\/p>\n
Speaking at his first press conference as All Blacks coach in March, Rennie surprised many by suggesting he would consider picking the 34-year-old, who he works with in Japan at Kobe. <\/p>\n
Rennie clarified on Tuesday that he \u201cwas always talking about maybe a World Cup\u201d, with the ongoing and consistent long-distance travel a major factor for Retallick. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest travel Brodie does nowadays is on the Shinkansen to Tokyo, so we\u2019re away one night.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Brodie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/260215BraveLupusvKobeSteelers_042.JPG\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Brodie Retallick in action for Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | Photo: Photosport<\/p>\n
That travel time from Kobe to Tokyo is roughly two and a half hours. It\u2019s understood \u2014 and Rennie confirmed \u2014 that his predecessor, Scott Robertson, approached Retallick last year about returning to play for the All Blacks, though he was turned down. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got 150-odd days in hotels this year, so that wouldn\u2019t excite the big man. \u201c<\/p>\n
I guess we\u2019ll continue to have discussions around whether there will be any versatility or flexibility around a guy like Brodie, who played 12 years of Test rugby, 12 years of Super Rugby and has made a massive contribution to rugby here. I reckon he\u2019s earned the right.<\/p>\n
“If he was available, if the system allowed, and if he was playing well enough, he could potentially be available next year.\u201d <\/p>\n
It\u2019s a subject Rennie is keen to kick for touch on until 2027. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sure if Kobe will be too excited about this conversation, but it is in the off-season. \u201cI wind Brodie up about it all the time. I know he loves the All Blacks and I reckon he\u2019s good enough, so it would obviously take discussions.<\/p>\n
“We\u2019ll push that out the back for the moment, focus on this year, and then we\u2019ll talk about Brodie next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Watch the full press conference:<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u00a0All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has revealed he would pick Richie Mo’unga for the All Blacks tour to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":665141,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[64,63,760,85],"class_list":["post-665140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-rugby","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/665140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=665140"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/665140\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/665141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=665140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=665140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=665140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}