All Blacks legend Sam Whitelock has his French Top 14 debut put on hold
Sam Whitelock during the Rugby World Cup RWC 2023, Pool A match between France and New Zealand All Blacks.
The most capped All Blacks player of all-time, Sam Whitelock, will have to wait a bit longer to make his Top 14 debut for Section Paloise (Pau).
The 35-year-old joined the French side after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where he helped New Zealand reach the final, where they were beaten by rivals South Africa.
Debut put on hold
Whitelock arrived at his new club at the end of November and has slowly integrated into the side but has yet to make his debut for the Top 14 outfit.
He was set to do as this weekend when Pau hosted Clermont at the Stade du Hameau on Saturday but has suffered a setback that will delay his debut.
The All Blacks great has been ruled out of the clash against Clermont due to a concussion he sustained in training, and while head coach Sébastien Piqueronies had previously assured that Whitelock would make his first appearance before the end of the year, those plans may have to be shelved.
He could be in contention to face Oyonnax away the following weekend before making his home debut against defending Champions Cup winners La Rochelle in the club’s first game of 2024.
Whitelock joined his younger brother Luke at Pau with the Top 14 side, which currently sits fourth overall on the league standings.
Final year in New Zealand
It’s been a record-breaking year for Whitelock, who broke Richie McCaw’s appearance record for the All Blacks, becoming the first player to play 150 Tests for New Zealand.
He also notched up 125 wins for the All Blacks, a tally only McCaw (131) has bettered and became the first player to play in three Rugby World Cup finals, winning the tournament in 2011 and 2015.
When he does debut for Pau, it will be just the second club outside of New Zealand that Whitelock has played for, having spent a season in Japan with the Wild Knights in 2020.
He spent his entire career at Canterbury and the Crusaders, featuring over 150 times for the latter winning seven Super Rugby titles.
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