New deals for nine All Blacks

Editor

New Zealand Rugby is celebrating good news on the player retention front, with nine players re-committing to the NZRU.

New Zealand Rugby is celebrating good news on the player retention front, with nine players re-committing to the NZRU.

All Blacks and Highlanders scrum-half Aaron Smith, who has played 29 Tests since making his debut in 2012, has re-signed with New Zealand Rugby through to 2016.

Other All Blacks joining Smith in re-committing through to 2016 are fellow scrum-half and 2014 Test debutant TJ Perenara (three caps) and his Hurricanes teammates prop Jeff Toomaga-Allen (one cap) and fly-half Beauden Barrett (19 Tests); and Crusaders lock Dominic Bird (one Test) and loose forward Matt Todd (two Tests).

Three other players have extended their contracts through to the end of 2015 – the All Blacks most capped prop, 110-Test veteran Tony Woodcock, his 20-Test Blues front row teammate Charlie Faumuina and Crusaders back Tom Taylor (three Tests).

“It's great news for the All Blacks and New Zealand rugby, especially with a large number of talented, young players re-committing to the country. It bodes well for the future,” said All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen.

The announcement is the latest in a number of key signings for New Zealand Rugby in recent times, with an ever-increasing list of players re-signing to New Zealand Rugby for the next few years.

All Blacks Kieran Read, Owen Franks, Cory Jane, Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Samuel Whitelock and Aaron Cruden have all signed with New Zealand Rugby through to 2017, the same year the British and Irish Lions will tour New Zealand.

As well as the above, a number of current and recent All Blacks are also signed up, including hooker Dane Coles, lock Luke Romano and midfielder Sonny Bill Williams (all through to 2016).

Meanwhile captain Richie McCaw and fellow loose forwards Jerome Kaino, Liam Messam, Sam Cane, Steven Luatua and Luke Whitelock, hooker Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks and fellow props Wyatt Crockett and Ben Afeaki, locks Brodie Retallick and Jeremy Thrush, scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow, All Blacks vice-captain Daniel Carter and fellow fly-half Colin Slade, midfielders Ma'a Nonu and Francis Saili and outside backs Julian Savea and Charles Piutau are all signed through to 2015.