Highly rated All Blacks prospect fully focused on shining for the Hurricanes
Ruben Love, in action for the Hurricanes in 2022.
Despite being highly rated in New Zealand and backed to wear the All Blacks’ number 10 jersey, Hurricanes utility back Ruben Love is fully focused on doing well for the Wellington-based side in Super Rugby Pacific in 2024.
The 22-year-old, who is equally at home at fly-half or full-back, is one of New Zealand’s most exciting prospects and burst onto the scene for Wellington in his country’s National Provincial Championship in 2020.
Represented various teams
Since then, he has played for the Hurricanes at Super Rugby level, the Māori All Blacks as well as the All Blacks XV.
With Richie Mo’unga leaving New Zealand to further his career in Japan after the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, the All Blacks‘ fly-half jersey is up for grabs and Love is seen as one of the players who could challenge for that position in 2024.
However, Love insists that playing at Test level is not on his mind at the moment as he is fully focused on doing well in Super Rugby Pacific with the Hurricanes.
“Right now, my main priority is being available for selection,” he told Newshub. “If you look at my track record, the last two years hasn’t been great for the Hurricanes.
“For other teams, it’s been good. For the Canes it’s been poor, so I just want to get on the field.”
Love was one of Wellington’s stars as he shone at full-back during their victorious NPC campaign in 2022. However, a groin injury meant he only played for eight minutes for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Pacific in 2023 with his only appearance coming off the replacements bench in their quarter-final loss to the Brumbies in Canberra.
“It was so frustrating,” said Love. “Watching for the last two years, not being able to contribute on the field, and I felt like I had a lot to prove.”
Thriving at 10 and 15
Being able to play at both fly-half and full-back is something which Love has thrived on for his entire professional career. He admits that being able to shine in both positions has been a blessing and a curse though.
“You don’t want to get caught in that grey area, where you can’t specialise in any,” he admitted. “I know I can do both positions as well as anyone.
“But being able when the time comes to make a decision, I want to be in a good space.”
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