2026-04-18 13:32:08
Richie Mo’unga knows it is not “a given” that he will play for New Zealand again.
The 31-year-old fly-half has been playing in Japan for the last three years, deeming him ineligible to play for the All Blacks, but will return to his home country later this year with a focus on regaining his place in the national side.
He told Rugby World magazine: “There’s always chat around the All Blacks and I understand that by going home I’m only going to earn the right to be an All Black again and to possibly give myself the chance to put the jersey on again.
“I understand that it’s not a given and above all that I just want to challenge myself.
“I’m not saying I’m not challenged here in Japan but I want to play the world’s best rugby teams at a World Cup.”
During his two seasons in Japan Rugby League One have earned Richie two Most Valuable Player awards and two league titles for his club Toshiba Brave Lupus.
And while he is “really happy” with his career in the Far East, it’s important to the sportsman to give himself the chance to play in a World Cup again.
He said: “I got to a point where I’m really happy with what I’m doing here in Japan, but I didn’t want to look back in 10 years’ time and have any regrets and think I should have done this, I should have done that.
“And if I hadn’t given myself the chance to play in the World Cup again, I think that would have been a massive regret for me.
“That’s a big reason why I’m going home.”
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