Ex-All Black who ‘deserved much more’ secures a French lifeline after falling victim to Ronan O’Gara’s ‘overhaul’
The former All Blacks scrum-half has secured a move to another Top 14 club.
Former All Blacks scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow has secured a move in France after being released by La Rochelle.
Kerr-Barlow, who won the Rugby World Cup with New Zealand in 2015, was not offered a contract extension at La Rochelle having played 185 matches for the club, which he joined back in 2017.
He enjoyed immense success with the side winning back-to-back Investec Champions Cup titles, the club’s first two major trophies in their history. The Champions Cup is a popular event for rugby fans using betting offers. Kerr-Barlow’s move to Stade Français marks a fresh chapter for the seasoned scrum-half, offering a deserved lifeline after a bittersweet La Rochelle exit. As Ronan O’Gara’s overhaul reshapes the club’s future, Kerr-Barlow carries his experience and determination to Paris – ready to prove he still has plenty to give.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow stays in France
However, the 34-year-old ex-All Black was deemed surplus to requirements at the Ronan O’Gara-coached team following the signing of French international number nine Nolann Le Garrec from Racing 92.
While a return to New Zealand looked unlikely for the veteran half-back, he now qualifies for a switch in international allegiances to Australia, something he admitted to being open to doing previously, but has instead opted against a return to the Southern Hemisphere, securing a move to Top 14 side Stade Français.
The club confirmed the signing of the 29-Test cap scrum-half following the conclusion of the Top 14 season, where the Parisian club struggled and finished 12th overall, narrowly avoiding a promotion-relegation match.
He will be joined in making the move to Stade Francais with La Rochelle teammate Thierry Paiva, while the club confirmed that Paul Abadie’s loan move from Bordeaux has become permanent with the scrum-half signing a deal through to the end of the 2026/27 season.
Kerr-Barlow and Abadie strengthen Stade Francais’ half-back stocks ahead of next season with fellow former All Black Brad Weber still on the club’s payroll.
O’Gara’s overhaul
His exit from La Rochelle comes after O’Gara admitted that the club needs a reset and an overhaul following their failure to qualify for the Top 14 knockout stages after finishing in seventh position on the overall table and were knocked out of the Champions Cup in the round of 16.
“It’s the end of a cycle. We need new ideas, new players, new tactics, a complete overhaul, and much more consistency,” he said after their final round of the regular season.
“How can we play like that in such an important match?
“There were some similarities with the team that had just won five in a row, but we were a bit like the team we saw in February, March, and April.
“When we had our backs against the wall, we won five games to give ourselves the chance to play a ‘round-of-16 match’ tonight.
“I feel like we just thought we’d turn up and do the job, but sport isn’t like that. Pau deserved to win.”
O’Gara has had his own disciplinary issues this season and was unable to be on the sidelines after serving his latest ban for an outburst towards a match official.
Subsequently, he admitted to his own shortcomings that proved costly.
“The coach was especially missing. We talk about discipline all week, but when the coach is suspended, he can’t have any impact,” he added.
“The main culprit is me. I’m frustrated, angry, disappointed. And I’m sad for the fans after all the bad games they have had.
“I’m sad for Brice (Dulin), I’m very sad for Tawera (Kerr-Barlow). He deserves much more than this.”
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