All Blacks and Hurricanes halfback TJ Perenara announces move to Japan
Friday, 2 August 2024
TJ Perenara is the latest All Black to head to Japan.
Veteran will remain available for All Blacks for rest of season.
New generation of halfbacks is emerging in New Zealand.
TJ Perenara admits he might have been tempted to stay in Aotearoa if New Zealand Rugby’s offer had been through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The Hurricanes and All Blacks No 9 announced on Friday that he will be moving to Japan at the end of the year to take up a three-year deal with the Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo club.
The 32-year-old is part of the All Blacks’ squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship and will remain available for test selection for the rest of the year, but has decided that the time is right to cash in overseas.
Perenara spoke to the media on Friday afternoon and it was evident that the decision to leave had been a difficult one, with Perenara believing his was playing some of the best rugby of his career.
“Maybe - I don't know because the offer [to 2027] wasn't there,” Perenara said when asked if he would have stayed with that extra year’s security.
“We had an offer [from NZ Rugby] to 2026, which was an awesome offer as well.
“But that long-term security to 2027 and the prospect of that club [in Japan] and where the club is going is something that really excited me and something I really want to be a part of.
“So I don't know [if he would have stayed]. It definitely would have made the decision harder.”
Perenara fought back from a serious Achilles injury to return for the Hurricanes and All Blacks this season, and his form suggested that he could push through to the Rugby World Cup in 2027.
Perenara says he would have “definitely” backed himself to remain among the top three halfbacks in the country by 2027.
“That's why I think it was so hard because I do back that myself and I believe that I'm playing some of the best footy of my career at the moment as well,” he said.
“So to walk away now was difficult, but I always I wanted to go on my terms as well.
“…I never want to look back on my career at the end of it and be like, ‘Man, you stayed too long’ or you were pushed out.
“I would rather look back on it and think maybe I went a little bit too early.”
There are certainly no guarantees in New Zealand rugby, with the halfback position seeing the emergence of a number of younger players.
Cam Roigard, Cortez Ratima and Noah Hotham have huge futures, while Finlay Christie and Folau Fakatava remain in the mix.
Further down the talent pipeline, Otago youngster Dylan Pledger was the standout player for the the New Zealand under-20s this year and could rise quickly in the coming years due to his strong passing game and pace.
Perenara also name checked Taufa Funaki at the Blues, but said the chance to set up his family was a greater factor than competition from the younger pups nipping at his heels
He also gave an insight into what he might do after his career was over.
“I would like to move into coaching at some point,” he said.
“It's given me so much to give back to the game in some form, post playing, is something that I'm really passionate about.
“I don't know exactly what that looks like.
“Coaching seems to be the easy answer because it's in my mind, it's the easiest way that I can work with young players and hopefully help them throughout their career so they can have the experiences that I had with rugby.”