Latest news with #Mo'unga
1News
5 days ago
- Sport
- 1News
Broken hand to keep Richie Mo'unga out of Lions match
Richie Mo'unga has confirmed that he is out of the Australia and New Zealand Invitational side to face the British and Irish Lions in Adelaide next month due to his broken hand. The former All Blacks No.10 was looking forward to playing in a game which will be as close to a Test match as he has experienced since his last one – the World Cup final defeat to South Africa in Paris in late 2023. His broken hand did not prevent him playing for Toshiba Brave Lupus in their Japan One grand final victory over Kubota Spears recently – another victory to go with Mo'unga's championship win with the side last year – but his agent confirmed to the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday that Mo'unga is out of the Lions match. The 31-year-old had previously spoken of his wish to play in the fixture after speaking to former New Zealand coach Ian Foster, who will be an assistant for the AUNZ side. 'I miss the big Test match setting, the big arenas, this [AUNZ game] will be the closest I'll get to it while I'm in Japan,' Mo'unga told ADVERTISEMENT In January, 1News revealed that Mo'unga had ruled out a return to New Zealand to play for the All Blacks this year. He had left the door open to a comeback after encouragement from All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson but a breakdown in negotiations with New Zealand Rugby led to him re-committing to Toshiba for the final year of his contract, worth an estimated $2 million a year. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds including disposable vape ban, Auckland Airport meth find, and why Europe hates tourists right now. (Source: 1News) Mo'unga was awarded player of the match in the final against Kubota, his performance helping continue a remarkable personal streak. Since 2017, he has won a title every year – seven for the Crusaders and two for Toshiba, who are coached by former Crusaders coach and All Blacks captain Todd Blackadder. The Sydney Morning Herald said Japan-based halfback TJ Perenara and back rower Shannon Frizell, Mo'unga's teammate to Toshiba, remained in contention to play at Adelaide Oval, alongside Chiefs fullback Shaun Stevenson who is due to play in the Super Rugby final against the Crusaders this Saturday. The AUNZ game on July 12 will act as a dress rehearsal for the Lions seven days before the first Test in Brisbane. ADVERTISEMENT The Lions will also play Tests in Melbourne and Sydney, plus a match against a First Nations/Pasifika XV and four matches against the Australian Super Rugby Pacific sides.
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Star power missing as Anzac side miss out on world's highest-paid player
The Australia and New Zealand Invitational side to face the British and Irish Lions seven days ahead of the first Test will lack serious star power with New Zealand five-eighth Richie Mo'unga to miss the game in Adelaide due to a broken hand. Mounga's agent Cameron McIntyre confirmed that the world's highest-paid player has not recovered from the injury sustained playing for Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus. Mo'unga, who is reportedly on a $2m deal, had previously spoken of his wish to play in the fixture after speaking to former New Zealand coach Ian Foster, who will be an assistant for the AUNZ side. 'I miss the big Test match setting, the big arenas, this (AUNZ game) will be the closest I'll get to it while I'm in Japan,' Mo'unga previously told The news of Mo'unga's unavailability comes on the back of former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper revealing that he turned down an invitation to represent the combined Australia and New Zealand side in Adelaide on 12 July. Speaking on Stan Sport's Inside Line Hooper stated that he would have liked to have seen a Barbarians style team with the best players possible from New Zealand and Australia, while also underlining the logistical difficulties in putting the team together. 'I would have loved to have seen it be an Australian New Zealand Barbarians trouble is trying to make it all work,' Hooper said. 'I mentioned around the length and the layover between games for some people, some guys are coming to the back end of the season. 'Maybe they don't want to keep training for another eight weeks because it's going to be a daunting task (to face the Lions).'
The Age
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Star power missing as Anzac side miss out on world's highest-paid player
The Australia and New Zealand Invitational side to face the British and Irish Lions seven days ahead of the first Test will lack serious star power after it was revealed New Zealand five-eighth Richie Mo'unga will miss the game in Adelaide due to a broken hand. Mounga's agent Cameron McIntyre confirmed that the world's highest-paid player has not recovered from the injury sustained playing for Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus. Mo'unga, who is reportedly on a $2m deal, had previously spoken of his wish to play in the fixture after speaking to former New Zealand coach Ian Foster, who will be an assistant for the AUNZ side. 'I miss the big Test match setting, the big arenas, this (AUNZ game) will be the closest I'll get to it while I'm in Japan,' Mo'unga previously told The news of Mo'unga's unavailability comes on the back of former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper revealing that he turned down an invitation to represent the combined Australia and New Zealand side in Adelaide on 12 July. Speaking on Stan Sport's Inside Line Hooper stated that he would have liked to have seen a Barbarians style team with the best players possible from New Zealand and Australia, while also underlining the logistical difficulties in putting the team together. 'I would have loved to have seen it be an Australian New Zealand Barbarians trouble is trying to make it all work,' Hooper said. 'I mentioned around the length and the layover between games for some people, some guys are coming to the back end of the season. 'Maybe they don't want to keep training for another eight weeks because it's going to be a daunting task (to face the Lions).'
NZ Herald
03-06-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
All Black Shannon Frizell eyes Rugby World Cup return alongside Richie Mo'unga
Richie Mo'unga might not be the only All Black returning to New Zealand next year to target a place in the World Cup squad, with another former influential figure likely to move home. Mo'unga is expected to return home next year after playing a third season for Japanese side Toshiba.
Kyodo News
03-06-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Rugby: Bond between Mo'unga, Leitch underpinned Brave Lupus triumph
By Sean Miyaguchi, KYODO NEWS - 17 hours ago - 16:51 | Sports, Rugby, All As the final siren signaled an end to this year's Japan Rugby League One final, victorious man-of-the-match Richie Mo'unga immediately looked for one Brave Lupus Tokyo teammate. The former All Black wanted to share the moment at Tokyo's National Stadium with captain Michael Leitch, who Mo'unga credited with helping him find his way in Japan over the past two seasons, culminating in back-to-back titles with Sunday's 18-13 win over the Kubota Spears. Mo'unga, who was visibly emotional at the end of the match in front of 51,009, likened the Brave Lupus No. 8 and Japan's 2019 Rugby World Cup skipper to a "big brother" whose influence was felt throughout the Toshiba-owned club, based in the western Tokyo city of Fuchu. "The first person I sort of looked for was Leitchy," said the 31-year-old Mo'unga, after playing through a broken hand in the final. "I'm so proud of him and just in awe of what he does for this club and the man that he is, and what he stands for." While foreign stars have tended to play in Japan on short-term contracts toward the ends of their careers, Mo'unga arrived during his prime on a three-year deal at the start of last season, giving up the opportunity to play internationally for New Zealand during that time. He described New Zealand-born Leitch, who moved to Japan in high school, as both an inspirational leader and the glue that held together the home-grown and overseas-born players comprising the Brave Lupus squad. "I sort of speak on behalf of a lot of foreign players that come to Toshiba (Brave Lupus), where he just makes life so much easier for us," he said. "He's like a big brother and to see him have the success, for him to captain and lead the side, I'm proud to be a follower of someone like him." The pair had one-on-one time in the week leading up to the final as they undertook injury recovery therapy in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. "I tried to have a conversation with him, but as soon as he gets in there he just sleeps," Mo'unga laughed. Head coach Todd Blackadder said the joint leadership provided by Mo'unga and the 36-year-old Leitch had been the bedrock for Brave Lupus as they became the first two-time champions in the League One era. "Him and Leitchy together are a great combination," Blackadder said. "Together they really lead our team and in different areas -- one could be tactically, once could be mindset, they feed off each other really, really well." Lauding Mo'unga as an "incredible player," Leitch said the star playmaker had embraced life in Fuchu among his new Brave Lupus teammates. "He loves where we live. He loves the club. He showed that through his performance," Leitch said. Related coverage: Rugby: Brave Lupus outlast Spears for back-to-back League One titles Rugby: Brave Lupus aim to retain League One title in trademark style Rugby: Spears hold off Sungoliath to reach League One semis
