Scott Robertson\u2019s treatment of Blues flanker Dalton Papali\u2019i directly resulted in the back-rower\u2019s decision to leave New Zealand and sign for Castres, according to a report.<\/p>\n
Once tipped to be an All Blacks<\/a> captain, back-rower Papali\u2019i has given up on his international career this year as the Blues skipper will pack his bags for the Top 14 club following the conclusion of Super Rugby Pacific.<\/p>\n The 36-Test cap loose forward is understood to have repeatedly clashed with former head coach Robertson and was one of the 25 players who were interviewed during the thorough review of the 2025 All Blacks\u2019 season, despite being repeatedly overlooked, as the board sought observations about how he transitioned in and out of the squad.<\/p>\n According to a report by The New Zealand Herald<\/a>, the manner in which Robertson dealt with Papali\u2019i in 2025 fueled the discourse amongst the squad, particularly after he was a consistent member of the playing group the year prior.<\/p>\n Papali\u2019i and Robertson discourse<\/p>\n The disputes between the ex-All Blacks boss and the back-rower stemmed from a lack of communication over his non-selection and led to Papali\u2019i rejecting a call-up to the end-of-year squad last year after deciding to activate a clause in his contract to leave New Zealand.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Herald has been told that it was the plight of Blues captain Dalton Papali\u2019i that became something of a cause celebre among teammates, and the totem for their collective gripes,\u201d Gregor Paul wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cPapali\u2019i began the Robertson era as the first-choice openside but was relegated from the matchday 23 midway through the Rugby Championship.<\/p>\n \u201cWell-placed sources say Papali\u2019i clashed often with Robertson throughout 2024, and when the former was picked for the end-of-the-year tour, but unable to travel because of a hamstring injury, he was confused by the head coach\u2019s public messaging.<\/p>\n \u201cRobertson said several times that he expected Papali\u2019i to join the tour, but the call-up never came and the relationship soured.\u201d<\/p>\n NZ Rugby bigwig: Scott Robertson sacking was a \u2018very good outcome\u2019 and the \u2018right thing to do\u2019 for the All Blacks<\/a><\/p>\n Selecting the Blues loose forward for the final Test match against France last year was seen as an \u2018olive branch\u2019 and on the feedback after the game, Papali\u2019i expected to be included in the Rugby Championship squad that travelled to Argentina.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s at this point that Robertson\u2019s and Papali\u2019i\u2019s perspectives appear to diverge,\u201d the report added.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Herald has been told by NZR that Robertson felt he was clear about the circumstances under which Papali\u2019i was told he\u2019d remain with the All Blacks and travel to Argentina for the Rugby Championship tests.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a call-up contingent on whether other players recovered from injury. The Herald understands that Papali\u2019i, though, came away from the conversation 99% certain he was going to Argentina and was, therefore, disappointed when the squad was named and he wasn\u2019t in it.<\/p>\n \u201cHe received no communication about the matter, at which point he instructed his agent to tell NZR that he would be invoking a clause in his contract to quit early if he was not selected by the All Blacks.\u201d<\/p>\n