Beauden Barrett in negotiations!

This week we learned that New Zealand international player Beauden Barrett is in negotiations with the New Zealand Rugby Union to extend his contract.

The 32-year-old is preparing to play the 2024 season in the Japanese Championship under the colors of Toyota Verblitz.

But he must return to New Zealand at the end of this free-lance period.

The latter will also conduct negotiations with his federation to extend his contract until the next World Cup, which will be held in Australia in 2027.

This means there is a very good chance we will see Beauden Barrett playing in the next World Cup.

The All-Black would then be 36 years old!

It was the New Zealand Union’s general manager of professional rugby, Chris Lindrum, who spoke on the subject. Extracts:

“Nothing has been finalized yet but that’s certainly the intention. If we reach an agreement where he plays at Toyota and then returns to New Zealand for the second half of 2024, then yes he could be available for the All Blacks. That’s basically him signing a multi-year contract.” ».

As a reminder, Damien McKenzie is currently the Blacks’ only fly-half following the departure of Richie Mo’unga to Japan for three seasons and the departure of Beauden Barrett to Japan for one season.

This season, Beauden Barrett will be the joint of the Toyota Verblitz with Aaron Smith, no less!