All Blacks forward Whitelock pens contract extension with Top 14 club
Luke Whitelock in action during the TOP 14 match between Racing 92 and Pau at the Paris La Defense Arena.
Former All Blacks forward Luke Whitelock has signed a contract extension with Top 14 club Pau amid reports that brother Sam could be returning to New Zealand.
Whitelock joined Pau in December 2019 from the Highlanders and is currently in his 5th season with the Top 14 outfit.
Luke Whitelock extends Pau stay
The 33-year-old will stay in France for at least another two seasons after extending his contract through the end of the 2025/26 Top 14 campaign.
The news follows speculation that Luke’s older brother Sam Whitelock could be returning to New Zealand, with Scott Robertson keen on using his experience in the All Blacks set-up.
With 153 Test caps, Sam is the most capped All Black of all-time and could add to his tally, but under current Zealand Rugby policy, he would need to return to a Super Rugby team in Aotearoa in order to pull on the black jersey again.
When Sam announced his decision to leave New Zealand to join Pau, he explained that the opportunity to pay alongside his brother again was a major factor.
“Hannah, the kids and myself are going to head to France to play with my little brother Luke,” Whitelock said in a Crusaders statement.
“I’ve had the privilege of playing with family for Canterbury, the Crusaders and the All Blacks at different stages, and this opportunity was too good to pass up.”
The experienced lock has yet to comment on a potential move back to New Zealand and with his brother now extending his contract, will just one season playing alongside be enough?
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Meanwhile, Luke, who played eight Tests for the All Blacks, is content to live in Bearn after agreeing to remain at the club.
“I am very happy to stay with the club for two more seasons. I fully agree with the direction we are taking, we have a good balance in our squad between experienced players and promising young players,” the back-rower said.
“I will continue to do my job to raise our standards and continue to advance the club’s project. My family really likes Béarn, we have been very well received and it is like a second home for us now.”
Pau head coach added: “Luke is a true leader within the team, everywhere and all the time: in training, in matches, by example, by speaking.
“He embodies the values of our team and our ambition. Our project and our squad can only grow alongside boys like Luke.”
