TJ Perenara acknowledges that the financial security offered by Japan was too enticing to resist, leading the scrum-half to forgo the chance of participating in the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
At 32 years old, Perenara will effectively end his international career by joining Black Rams Tokyo on a three-year contract.
Perenara will still be available to Scott Robertson for the remainder of the current campaign, but from 2025 onwards, the All Blacks head coach will lose his most seasoned half-back.
The Hurricanes playmaker disclosed that New Zealand Rugby made a strong offer, but the extended deal in Asia was simply too good to pass up.
“Maybe – I don’t know because the offer [to 2027] wasn’t there,” Perenara told reporters when asked if a longer contract from the governing body would have changed his decision. “We had an offer [from NZ Rugby] to 2026, which was an excellent offer as well.
“But that long-term security to 2027 and the prospect of that club [in Japan] and its future direction really excited me and is something I want to be a part of.
“I don’t know if I would have stayed. It would definitely have made the decision harder.”
Perenara remains a crucial part of the All Blacks setup and was recently named in the squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship, alongside young half-backs Cortez Ratima and Noah Hotham.
With Cam Roigard also in the mix upon his return from injury, there are plenty of talented playmakers for Robertson to evaluate.
Despite the possibility of being outpaced by younger players, Perenara insists that family reasons primarily drove his decision to leave.
“I’m really confident in my ability to push other half-backs in the country to be the best,” he said.
“We have a lot of depth, but a significant reason for us was family security. The chance to sign a three-year deal in Japan presented itself, and we didn’t have a similar three-year option in New Zealand, so that was a major factor.
“We’ve also considered what my career might look like post-playing. The opportunity to go to Japan, perform well with the club, and potentially extend my career there, followed by post-playing career opportunities, was very appealing.”