All Blacks legend convinced about Hoskins Sotutu’s Test future after Sir John Kirwan raises England concerns

Sir John Kirwan hopes that Hoskins Sotutu’s selection in the second-string squad is enough to convince him to maintain his All Blacks ambitions.

The number eight is already a capped international having made his debut for New Zealand in 2020, but his last appearance for the national team was back in November 2022.

That means Sotutu, who has a Fijian father and an English mother, could well switch allegiances in late 2025 under World Rugby’s eligibility regulations after he completes the required three-year stand down period.

Shock omission

The back-rower was a surprise omission from the first All Blacks squad named by Scott Robertson for the mid-year series and he failed to break into the group for the Rugby Championship.

However, Sotutu has been named in the 28-man All Blacks XV squad ahead of their matches with Georgia and Munster, which suggests that he is still on Robertson’s radar.

Kirwan, who has been a big advocate of the Blues star, was “happy” to see him included but was not sure whether it would be enough to entice him to keep trying for New Zealand selection.

He was also confused as to whether playing for the All Blacks XV would count as a capture team for Robertson’s side.

Should that be the case, if Sotutu does play against either Munster or Georgia then he would be unable to change nationalities for at least the next three years.

“Does that mean he doesn’t qualify [for England]? Are those old rules still about that if you play for the All Blacks XV, you’re not allowed to play for England?” Kirwan said on The Breakdown.

“If you’re Hoskins Sotutu and you don’t think you’ve got a chance, and you’ve got a chance to go and play for England, then does he play for the All Blacks XV?”

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If Sotutu does have ambitions to play for England then he would likely have to cut short his stint at the Blues, with the number eight contracted until the end of 2026.

But Jeff Wilson is convinced that the back-rower wants to be an All Black and will do his utmost to break into Robertson’s squad.

‘He wants to be an All Black’

“He wants to be an All Black. I think it’s a simple conversation. He’s been named in this squad, he hasn’t said anything otherwise. Let’s bring on the tour and see what he brings,” All Blacks great Wilson said.

There are 36 players in the main All Blacks squad and 28 in the second-string group, which Sotutu is a part of.

It could well be a big tour for a number of those fringe players, including the powerhouse Blues number eight, and Wilson gave them some advice for the northern hemisphere tour.

“They’re all under pressure. If you want to go on and further your career and improve over time, listen to your coaches, do your reviews, look at your game and then go on and work on it – use your time valuably,” he said.

“There are a lot of guys that need to keep making those steps forwards.”

READ MORE: POLL: England or Fiji? Should Hoskins Sotutu switch allegiance after another All Blacks snub?