Crusaders star adds to All Blacks exodus, signing with a Top 14 side

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All Blacks and Crusaders centre Jack Goodhue - who is set to join Castres - during the 2019 Rugby World Cup

All Blacks and Crusaders centre Jack Goodhue runs with the ball during the 2019 Rugby World Cup

Crusaders and All Blacks centre Jack Goodhue has signed a one-year contract, with the option of another, at Top 14 side Castres.

Goodhue has been a key Crusaders player under Scott Robertson, winning seven Super Rugby titles with the Canterbury outfit.

The 18-Test cap international missed out on New Zealand’s Rugby Championship squad but has been picked for the All Blacks XV to tour Japan.

Statement signing

He will arrive at Castres in mid-November when his contract with Northland, the Crusaders and New Zealand Rugby expires.

Goodhue has played 81 matches for the Crusaders since his Super Rugby debut in 2017 and joins the club after Thomas Combezou was forced into retirement.

“Playing for the Crusaders and the All Blacks has literally been a dream come true for me,” Goodhue said in a Crusaders’ statement.

“Being a part of the Crusaders family, playing 81 games in the jersey, representing New Zealand on the biggest stages, it’s been awesome.

“But the time has come for me to take up a new adventure in an exciting competition in France.

“My wife Sophie and I are excited to experience a new culture, language and environment.”

World-class player

Crusaders boss Robertson added: “Jack’s one of the best defensive centres in the world.

“He’s tough, he can square people up on attack, his running lines are exceptional and his general game understanding is really special.”

Robertson said Goodhue’s time as a Crusader “epitomised everything we champion as a team and an organisation”.

“He’s a great man, an incredible professional and a world-class player,” he added.

“Jack’s given a lot to this club and we’re going to miss him.”

He was called into the All Blacks’ wider training squad for the first time in 2017, during the British & Irish Lions Series. He made his Test debut for the All Blacks later that year against France.

It’s a real statement signing from Castres, who finished ninth overall in the Top 14 this season. The side is renowned for signing players from unearthing talents from the Pro D2 rather than bringing on big name players like Goodhue.

The 28-year-old joins a talented pool of centres at Castres that includes Adrea Cocagi, Adrien Séguret and Vilimoni Botitu.

While he has been a regular starter for the Crusaders in the past, he has had his fair share of injuries that disrupt his involvement, including a knee injury last year and an ACL rupture in 2021.

All Blacks exodus

Goodhue adds to the growing list of All Blacks who are leaving New Zealand shores in 2023, with fellow Crusaders team-mates Sam Whitelock (Pau), and Leicester Fainga’anuku (Toulon) also heading to France.

Richie Mo’unga moves to Japan, where he will be joined by Highlanders flanker Shannon Frizell at the Brave Lupus.

Super Rugby Pacific runners-up, the Chiefs, have bid farewell to scrum-half Brad Weber (Stade Francais) while Brodie Retallick (Kobe Steelers) is off for another stint in Japan.

Highlanders scrum-half Aaron Smith has signed with Toyota Verblitz in Japan and will be joined by Blues playmaker Beauden Barrett.

Nepo Laulala adds to the Blues’ woes as he has signed with Toulouse to replace former All Blacks Charlie Faumuina with Alex Hodgman and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, taking the number of All Blacks leaving Auckland to three.

Finally, the Hurricanes bid farewell to Dane Coles, who will hang up his boots after the Rugby World Cup, while Ardie Savea joins Retallick in Kobe but will return to New Zealand in 2025.

READ MORE: ‘Winning every Test’ is the All Blacks’ simple Rugby World Cup preparation

Crusaders Jack Goodhue