All Blacks: What Damian McKenzie’s reported European switch means for his Test future
All Blacks fly-half Damian McKenzie.
All Blacks star Damian McKenzie is set for a move to the northern hemisphere next year, according to a report in France.
Following in the footsteps of international team-mate Jordie Barrett, who has signed for Leinster, the 29-year-old has been linked with a switch to Europe.
Rugby Prime are claiming that McKenzie could well join Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle after the 2025 Rugby Championship.
Short-term deal
Although nothing has yet been finalised, the French publication are stating that, if completed, it will only be a short-term contract.
That suggests the playmaker will extend his current New Zealand Rugby deal, which is set to expire at the conclusion of the 2025 season, and use this opportunity to go on another sabbatical.
McKenzie also missed the Chiefs’ 2022 Super Rugby campaign having agreed a deal to play for Tokyo Sungoliath in Japan.
Asia has usually been the preferred destination for most current All Blacks who still harbour international ambitions, but Barrett bucked that trend.
The centre, who can also feature at full-back, will join up with Leinster following the conclusion of the 2024 Test season after signing a six-month contract in the northern hemisphere.
His backline partner appears set to follow suit in 2025 in what would be a significant coup for O’Gara, who guided La Rochelle to back-to-back Champions Cup titles in 2022 and 2023.
Like Barrett, a short-term move would fit nicely for McKenzie as he looks towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Current All Blacks situation
The 29-year-old has been selected by new All Blacks boss Scott Robertson as Richie Mo’unga’s successor at fly-half.
Despite some mixed displays, he was publicly backed by Robertson following New Zealand’s shock defeat to Argentina in Wellington and rewarded that show of faith with a stunning display at Eden Park a week later.
McKenzie then started both Tests against the Springboks in South Africa as the visitors went down 31-27 and 18-12 in two tight matches in Johannesburg and Cape Town respectively.
Robertson has openly stated that he would like to bring Mo’unga back from Japan, but there is no suggestion that the head coach is unimpressed by McKenzie’s displays so far this year.
Should the head coach wish to switch it up, the experienced Beauden Barrett is an option, but the Chiefs star has been the standout fly-half domestically over the past two years.
