Veteran All Blacks scrum-half inks new Hurricanes and New Zealand Rugby deal

The Hurricanes have announced that experienced scrum-half TJ Perenara has recommitted to New Zealand Rugby and the Wellington-based outfit after signing a contract extension.

The All Black, who is the first player to reach 150 games for the Hurricanes, has recommitted to the governing body and his club for a further two years, through until the end of 2025.

Scored a hat-trick on Hurricanes debut

Since scoring a hat-trick on debut in 2012, the then 20-year-old quickly became a Hurricanes fans’ favourite and he soon became the men from Wellington’s first choice number nine

Upon signing his new deal with the Hurricanes for the 2024 and 2025 Super Rugby Pacific seasons, Perenara said he is happy to commit his future to the Wellington-based outfit.

“I’m excited to re-sign with the Hurricanes and New Zealand Rugby. This last year has been tough missing out through injury, so having the opportunity to come back and play for the teams that I love, was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

Alongside his 150 matches for the Hurricanes, Perenara has played in 80 Tests for the All Blacks and was part of their victorious Rugby World Cup-winning squad in England in 2015.

The 31-year-old has also represented the Māori All Blacks and All Blacks XV.

Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee is thrilled to retain Perenara’s services for the next two seasons.

“TJ is a really important person within the Hurricanes,” he said. “He has grown into an excellent leader, and he has so much passion for the jersey and club. We are delighted that he has extended his time with us.”

After helping the Hurricanes to lift the Super Rugby in 2016, Perenara spent 2021 in Japan with NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes and led the side to the quarter-finals of the then, Japan Top League.

Re-established himself with the All Blacks

After returning to the Hurricanes in 2022, he quickly re-established himself in the All Blacks set-up and was part of their squad on last year’s end-of-year to the northern hemisphere.

Perenara has played 150 games for the Hurricanes, scoring 292 points. He is the second most-capped Hurricane, and apart from his 2015 World Cup win with the All Blacks and 2016 Super Rugby triumph with the Hurricanes, he also won a National Provincial Championship Premiership title with the Wellington Lions in 2022.

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