Exclusive interview: Richie Mo’unga reveals why he’s leaving New Zealand rugby

Richie Mo’unga will soon say goodbye to the All Blacks after signing an overseas deal. Liam Napier reveals how much the deal is worth, and speaks with Mo’unga about the decision.

Richie Mo’unga thought long
and hard before committing to a life-changing three-year deal with Japanese club Toshiba that dictates he will walk away from the All Blacks at the peak of his powers after next year’s World Cup.

Mo’unga remains driven by the desire to clinch a seventh championship with the Crusaders and propel the All Blacks to World Cup success next year. After that, though, he will leave a major hole when he departs New Zealand rugby for Japan on a three-year deal the Herald understands is in the region of $2 million per season.

That figure will place Mo’unga among the world’s highest paid players, alongside former All Black Charles Piutau and Finn Russell who will each pocket around £1m ($1.93m NZD) annually following the Scotland playmaker’s transfer from Racing to Bath after the World Cup.

As he considered the many factors in such a pivotal career decision, Mo’unga was ultimately swayed by the chance to set his family, which includes two-year-old daughter Billie and one-year-old son Marley, up for life.

“It’s a touchy thing when people are going overseas but you can’t hide away from the fact it’s life-changing for me and my family,” Mo’unga told the Herald. “My job as a father and a husband is to provide for my family and put them first in decisions. That’s basically what I’m doing.

“I’ve got a short window to play rugby so it’s taking advantage of that. Japan is a really good fit for me and my family and the age my kids are at. We’re excited to indulge in the culture.”

While Mo’unga debuted for the All Blacks in 2017 and has now played 44 tests, only this year did he truly establish his credentials as the first-choice starting No 10.

Mo’unga will be 29, entering his prime from an experience and tactical awareness perspective, when he departs following the World Cup. With Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie weighing their post-World Cup futures, too, the All Blacks’ test-ready depth at first five threatens to be exposed.

New Zealand Rugby’s eligibility rules dictate Mo’unga won’t be available for the All Blacks while in Japan, leaving the game here without one of its most gifted attacking talents.

“Long and hard,” Mo’unga said of pondering walking away from the black jersey post World Cup. “It’s a really tough decision because I feel like I’m starting to get into my groove around how I want to play, how I see myself fit in the All Blacks jersey and within the team. That makes things really difficult. When I weighed up the chance to make some awesome memories with my family and set them up, that decision was easy.