Auckland Blues and All Blacks star winger, Mark Tele’a announced that his current club has announced and even New Zealand. A choice that questions two years from the World Cup.
The season of fans of the Auckland Blues is definitely stingy with happiness. After a single victory in six games, Vern Cotter’s men finally managed to chain, with two successes in their last two outings. But now, this Tuesday, the star winger of the title holders in Super Rugby Mark Tele’a (28 years old) announced that he would leave his current club after the current year. He announced it via an Instagram post where an illustration of his manga career suggested his future destination: “It was an incredible adventure, filled with fantastic memories and great people … But after careful thinking, I decided to play rugby in Japan from next year. Thank you to teammates, coaches, leaders and supporters for having returned in recent years so special for me. I have always been grateful and lucky to live this course. Place now in a new chapter.”
This departure was also confirmed by the Auckland Blues on their social networks: “The blues can confirm that Mark Tele’a will leave for Japan next year. Originally from Massey, Mark has overcome all the imaginable obstacles to continue his dream. A devastating character on the field, the presence of Mark in the locker room is just as immense. We will celebrate accordingly at the end of the season, but by then, we have work to do.” This is obviously a big loss for the club as the winger is the X factor of this team. Last season, he had greatly participated in the conquest of the title with nine tests in fifteen games. The previous year, he had done better with twelve achievements in thirteen games.
Quid des All Blacks ?
The one who played eight super rugby games This season, marking three tests, is expected at Toyota Verblitz according to Rugby. In the club based in Aichi, he would evolve alongside Richie Gray or Pieter-Steph du Toit. The native of Auckland would also find his former teammate with the All Blacks Aaron Smith but also his former coach Ian Foster, co-co-coating of the club with Steve Hansen, himself also previously at the head of New Zealand. In the land of the rising sun, he will have to compensate for the departure of Joseph Manu. The former NRL star was committed with Racing 92 but he would seek to free himself from this commitment in order to sign in a New Zealand province with the objective of competing in the 2027 World Cup.
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The evocation of the next World Cup brings back to the choice of Mark Tele’a to leave New Zealand two years from this deadline. Indeed, to be eligible for the fern jersey for this great rugby mass, he should return to his native country after a single season in Japan. Is it in his plans? The coach Scott Robertson must surely hope while the player with 13 trials in 19 CAPES is one of the best wingers in the world at present thanks to his impressive top speed, his ability to dezon and his talent as a finisher.
This departure logically made teeth cringe in the country of the long white cloud. “It really concerns me, for example, Jeff Wilson, the former All Black (60 selections) now a consultant for Sky Sports New Zealand. We know that the game has changed, that the motivations vary according to the players. But if Tele’a leaves, it’s a strong signal. “
Several players can potentially enter the plans of Scott Robertson are currently evolving in League One Japanese. If Sam Cane, Aaron Smith or Brodie Rettalick have taken their international retirement, Shannon Frizell (33 CAPES) or Richie Mo’Unga (56 CAPES) cannot wear the All Blacks because evolving in a Japanese club. The opening half could, however, carry the colors of his country of origin, namely the Tongafrom 2026.
