Hurricanes veteran determined to reclaim All Blacks Test spot

After spending the entire 2023 season on the sidelines due to injury, experienced Hurricanes scrum-half TJ Perenara is determined to hit the ground running when the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign gets underway.

The 31-year-old sustained a ruptured Achilles during the All Blacks’ end-of-year tour in 2022 and during his time on the sidelines he went under the knife twice to repair the injury.

Despite that setback, Perenara has signed a contract extension with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the Hurricanes until the end of 2025 – a surprising move when several senior All Blacks like Sam Whitelock, Aaron Smith and Brodie Retallick have signed lucrative contracts with overseas-based clubs.

All Blacks spot up for grabs

Smith was the All Blacks’ first choice scrum-half for several years and his departure means the likes of Perenara, Hurricanes team-mate Cam Roigard, Finlay Christie of the Blues and Folau Fakatava of the Highlanders will be involved in a battle for the famous black number nine jersey.

Perenara admitted that the desire to play for his country again was a major reason why he decided to stay in New Zealand.

“We play this game, in New Zealand, because you want to be an All Black,” he told Newshub. “You want to play at the highest level, and represent the team you grew up loving.

“Yes, it is a big part of my motivation. But it’s always been part of my motivation.

“It’s the pinnacle of our game. If we’re not excited about it, or driven to be part of that team, we’re in the wrong position, or doing the wrong thing.”

Despite that desire to return to the All Blacks, Perenara still has a long way to go as he is yet to return to full training ahead of the Hurricanes’ pre-season programme, while he faces a tough battle to usurp Roigard as the Wellington-based outfit’s first choice scrum-half.

Perenara knows exactly what he needs to do if he wants to realise his goal of playing in the international arena again.

“Playing is a big one,” he said jokingly. “Getting back on the field and playing good footy.

“I set my goals broad for a year, but then I narrow them down to my short-term goals. For me now, my short-term goal is to get back and do full-tilt team training. When I come to that point, those goals start to adapt.

“To be an All Black, you have to play good rugby, you have to be out on the field, you have to be having an impact on your team. Winning really helps too.

“All those elements will be part of those goals and those standards.”

His injury meant he missed out on this year’s Rugby World Cup in France and while it was tough to see the All Blacks lose to their arch rivals, the Springboks, in the final, Perenara has come to terms with the fact that he wasn’t there to participate.

Tough to miss out on Rugby World Cup

“It was tough not being there,” said the 80-Test international. “But having the second surgery and knowing I wasn’t going to be available for it made it a little bit easier.

“The decision to have another surgery completely ruled me out. So I could be more of a fan and support out mates, rather than the disappointment of not being there.

“But that doesn’t take away at all from how much I want to get back into that All Blacks squad, and have an impact in there too.”

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