Newcastle Red Bulls-bound back-rower Hoskins Sotutu is looking forward to joining his new club ahead of the 2026/27 PREM Rugby season but is not focusing on representing England yet.
Sotutu was initially linked with a move to Saracens where he was seen as a potential replacement for England number eight Tom Willis, who is set to depart the North London club for a move to Bordeaux-Begles at the end of the current season.
However, last December it was confirmed that he has agreed terms on a three-year contract with PREM Rugby rivals Newcastle Red Bulls.
Sotutu has made 14 appearances for New Zealand at Test level but could switch his national allegiance to England, who he qualifies for through his mother.
The prospect of swapping an All Blacks jersey for a Red Rose one is not something which has crossed his mind yet, he revealed.
‘I like to focus on what is in front of me’
“I don’t like to think too far ahead because I think I will jinx myself,” he told The Telegraph. “I like to focus on what is in front of me and if anything happens off the back of that it will be a blessing.”
The 27-year-old made his All Blacks debut against the Wallabies and ran out for his last Test appearance in 2022.
Despite an outstanding 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign where he helped the Blues to lift the title as champions and finished as the competition’s top try-scorer and the official player of the tournament, Scott Robertson did not select Sotutu in any of his squads during his two-year tenure as All Blacks head coach.
Although his form warranted a New Zealand call-up, his omission meant he considered his options and apart from England, Sotutu also qualified for Fiji as his father Waisake Sotutu represented the island nation in 12 Tests.
“It is hard to get a spot in that team when you have Ardie Savea, the best player in the world, and Sam Cane, who is the captain,” Sotutu said.
‘I felt like I needed to have a look at other paths’
“So you are down the pecking order and in 2024 I tried to put my best foot forward but things never fell my way. I felt like I needed to have a look at other paths.
“The Fijian route was appealing because my father played for them but I came over to the UK to give myself an entirely new challenge and PREM Rugby really appeals to me.
“Northern Hemisphere rugby looks like it would suit my game.”
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
The decision to join Newcastle means that if he replicates his Blues form then his debut for England is not too far away, but Sotutu is just focusing on doing well for his new club when he joins them later this year.
“I am still really hungry to play well and I have got my best rugby ahead of me,” he said.
“I am keen to get to a new environment and use that as a springboard to become an even better Hoskins. I am looking forward to blending into a new group and a new city and making a change at that club.
“I still have a lot of years left in my career and I want to be the best on the park every single game. When that happens it should lead to other accolades.”