Patrick Tuipoloto has reached a deal until 2025 with New Zealand Rugby
Blues captain and Trans-Tasman Super Rugby winner Patrick Tuipoloto has renewed his contract with New Zealand Rugby until 2025. In it, he stated that the 28-year-old would take a year off and move to the top J-League and then return to Maori land.
The second row will be heading to Japan after the All Blacks campaign and thus will miss next year’s Super Rugby season to return to New Zealand in mid-2022.
“In some ways, winning the Trans-Tasman Super Rugby title made the decision easier for me, because we got that weight off our back with the Blues. It was a tough decision because the Blues as a group have developed very well,” said Tuipuluto, who added: I am excited about the new experience abroad and will do my best. Likewise, I’ll look forward to returning to the blues from then on. My home is in Auckland.”
Tuipuluto is expected to confirm his club abroad in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the Blues said they will name their captain for the 2022 Super Rugby season when the team meets at the end of the year.
“Reader. Travel maven. Student. Passionate tv junkie. Internet ninja. Twitter advocate. Web nerd. Bacon buff.”