‘Watch this space’ – Hoskins Sotutu linked with stunning allegiance switch after withdrawing from All Blacks XV squad
Blues forward Hoskins Sotutu and an insert of him in an England jersey via Akira Ioane's Instagram.
Blues number eight Hoskins Sotutu has withdrawn from the All Blacks XV squad ahead of the Northern Tour.
The side coached by Clayton McMillan will face Munster and Georgia next month with many players also joining Scott Robertson’s All Blacks squad for training purposes.
After being snubbed by Robertson for the July internationals as well as the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks XV fixtures provided the opportunity for Sotutu to potentially push his way into the Test squad after a stunning Super Rugby Pacific season helping the Blues to the title.
However, he has withdrawn from McMillan’s squad due to a knee injury.
Hoskins Sotutu misses the Northern Tour
New Zealand Rugby have yet to announce who will replace Sotutu in the squad confirming to the New Zealand Herald that he has suffered a knee injury and will await further medical consultation to determine the severity and recovery timeline.
It is also reported that the number eight was set to be one of the players that would have trained with Robertson’s squad ahead of the Test match against Japan at the end of the month.
He could well have been in line to earn his first Test cap for the All Blacks since November 22 when he came off the bench in the 25-all draw with England at Twickenham Stadium.
All Blacks: The telling stats that provide clarity to Hoskins Sotutu’s snub
Sotutu’s withdrawal has sparked reports that he could switch international allegiances with broadcaster James McOnie issuing a ‘watch this space’ warning.
Next November, the 26-year-old will be eligible to switch his Test allegiances to either Fiji or England, qualifying for the former through his father Waisake Sotutu who represented the Flying Fijians 12 times and the latter through his mother.
“Woj bomb. Hoskins Sotutu has pulled out of the All Blacks XV due to a knee problem. It meant he also turned down the chance to play for the All Blacks against Japan next weekend. He’s still contracted to NZ Rugby, but could easily pick and go,” McOnie posted on social media platform X on Wednesday.
Sotutu to switch allegiances?
This is not the first time that Sotutu has been linked with representing another international team as before his Test debut in 2020, it was reported that then-England coach Eddie Jones was eager to lure him north with Fiji also expressing their interest at the time.
Earlier this month, former Blues teammate Akira Ioane also pushed for the number eight to head north posting an edited image of Sotutu in an England jersey alongside Steve Borthwick with a caption reading “Wasn’t meant to be but all things happen for a reason.”
Ex-Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui also posted “Congratulations to Wallace Sititi, but seriously no Hoskins Sotutu….come and play for Fiji!” back in June.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks have made three injury-enforced changes to their squad for the clash against Japan and the Northern Tour with Ethan Blackadder (calf), Luke Jacobson (fractured thumb) and Dalton Papali’i (upper hamstring) not available to travel with the squad.
Flanker Peter Lakai and lock Josh Lord have both been added to the squad.
