TJ Perenara has acknowledged that the financial security offered in Japan was a major factor in his decision not to wait until the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The 32-year-old will effectively end his international career by joining Black Rams Tokyo on a three-year contract.
Perenara will remain available to Scott Robertson for the rest of the current campaign, but the All Blacks head coach will lose his most experienced half-back starting in 2025.
The Hurricanes playmaker disclosed that while New Zealand Rugby made a compelling offer, the deal in Asia, which included an additional year, was simply too attractive to decline.
“Maybe – I don’t know because the offer to 2027 wasn’t there,” Perenara said 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 potential of that club in Japan and its prospects really excited me and made me want to be a part of it. So I don’t know if I would have stayed. It definitely would have made the decision harder.”
Perenara remains an essential part of the All Blacks setup and was named in the squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship, along with young half-backs Cortez Ratima and Noah Hotham. With Cam Roigard also expected to join once he returns from injury, there are numerous talented playmakers for Robertson to evaluate.
Although the 32-year-old might have faced competition, Perenara emphasized that family reasons primarily influenced his decision to leave. “I’m very confident in my ability to push other half-backs in the country to be the best that we’ve got,” 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 came up, and we didn’t have three years here in New Zealand. That was a big factor for us.
“Additionally, we’ve been discussing the broader outlook of my career post-playing. The opportunity to go to Japan, excel with the club over three years, potentially extend that, and look at the steps after my playing career was very appealing.”
Source: Planet Rugby
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