Record-breaking All Blacks second-row makes retirement call for family reasons

Former All Blacks second-row Dominic Bird has announced his retirement from the sport, calling time on an impressive 12-year career in the professional game.

The 32-year-old forward, who played for the Crusaders, Chiefs and Hurricanes in Super Rugby, also had a stint at Racing 92 and periods with Canterbury and Wellington.

Bird played two Tests for New Zealand and at 2.06cm is the tallest All Black ever after, overtaking Mark Cooksley, with the lock shedding light on his decision to call it a day.

Family comes first

“It’s all about my family,” he told Stuff.

“My kids are Wellington-based, and I didn’t want to chase rugby elsewhere. I just want to stay here and spend more time with my family, so I felt it was the right time to retire.”

Bird has enjoyed a hugely successful club career and his time in Paris at Racing saw him experience life outside of New Zealand, which is one of many moments he savours.

“There have been many great highlights in my career,” he said.

“I loved my time with the All Blacks, the Barbarians, and I loved my time in France.

“But winning my seventh NPC medal with Wellington in 2022 is right up there.

“Playing with the group we had and the classy rugby we put out there, it was amazing, and I’ll never forget it.”

Successful career

Bird, who won the 2022 National Provincial Championship (NPC) title with Wellington, also tasted success at Canterbury as well as with the Crusaders in Super Rugby.

The hard-working forward featured for the Chiefs against the British & Irish Lions in 2017, with the touring team coming out on top 34-6 in that meeting in Hamilton.

While Bird admits he will miss rugby, the second-row did take a great deal of comfort from the fact he no longer has to endure fitness tests like the infamous ‘broncos’.

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