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RNZ News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
All Blacks wing Caleb Clarke is a man on a mission
Blues winger Caleb Clarke celebrates a Rieko Ioane try. Photo: Brett Phibbs / After a tough Super Rugby season, Caleb Clarke is more motivated than ever to prove he can still have an impact at test level. "That Super Rugby season, it wasn't my personal best. I know that and I own that," Clarke said. The 26-year-old wing was last month discharged without conviction for fleeing police on a motorbike in Auckland. Clarke was deeply embarrassed by the incident and concedes it likely affected his performances for the Blues. He said he was blessed to be supported by good people who helped him keep his mental health in a good space during the ups and downs. "It's definitely the boys that you surround yourself with. I'm pretty lucky to be surrounded by the likes of Patty (Tuipulotu), Dalton (Papali'i), Ardie (Savea), Christian Lio-Willie now in the environment as well. He's someone that keeps you where your feet are. "Coming from a faith background, it's not all about rugby. It's not who we are. I'm lucky and really grateful to be in this (All Blacks) environment. If I can keep that front of mind, then whether I'm playing or not, I'll be putting my best foot forward." Caleb Clarke in action for the Blues. Photo: Photosport With that now behind him, Clarke's motivation levels are high as he seeks to earn selection for this weekend's second test against France in Wellington. "Definitely. Now that off field stuff has finally gone out the way. It was a hindrance that kept growing in the back of my mind throughout the Super Rugby season. It feels good to be free and finally be able to move forward," Clarke said. "Definitely that motivational piece is there. If the opportunity comes (to play), then I'll take it with two hands and you'll probably see a few tears out there." With Sevu Reece out of the second test with concussion, Clarke and Will Jordan appear the frontrunners to take his spot on the wing. Clarke said it's always bittersweet when a chance presents itself due to another player's misfortune. "It's always an exciting opportunity to try and put your hand up, but it's at a cost of one of our brothers going down, so that's the downside. "It's good to see Sevu around the place still smiling, still laughing. That's uplifting to see. "The best I can do is put my hand up and and see the way the coaches want to go. If it happens, I'll take it with two hands. If it doesn't, then my role is to prepare the team as best as I can." Sevu Reece. Photo: Masanori Udagawa Reece is often give a licence to roam and get involved closer to the ruck and Clarke said that's still a big part of his own role. "Yeah, definitely. With the French being so wide on defence and and bringing that line speed, it's quite nice to try and get in between them, especially near the ruck," Clarke said. "It's still part of my game, having that work rate and trying to work around the ball. If I get the opportunity, it would be something I'd to look to do." Clarke makes no secret of his desire to become a consistent starter for the All Blacks and he said that begins with doing everything he can to help the team. "Just taking every opportunity I can, especially if I'm not picked. You don't want to drop your lip and go out to training and not prepare the boys well," Clarke said. "You want to have the right attitude mentality to go out there and compete. That's what I want to try and do week in, week out and if I get the chance to wear the black jersey, I want to try and hold it." Clarke has been in the All Blacks for five years now, but it doesn't necessarily feel like it for the Blues star. "Not really. It's gone really quickly. I still feel so excited and grateful whenever I get named as an All Black. These last five years have gone really quickly because time flies when you're having fun." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
26-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
All Blacks suffer Wallace Sititi injury blow ahead of France series
Wallace Sititi on the burst against France in 2024. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Loose forward Wallace Sititi has been ruled out of the upcoming three-test series against France with an ankle injury. Sititi, 22, was last year's World Rugby's Breakthrough Player of the Year but played a limited part in the Chiefs' Super Rugby Pacific campaign this season as he recovered from a knee injury he suffered on the All Blacks' 2024 end of year Northern Hemisphere tour. Coach Scott Robertson has called in Crusaders number eight Christian Lio-Willie as Sititi's replacement. A statement from New Zealand Rugby said Sititi "was seen by a surgeon last night regarding a high ankle injury and it has been determined that he will require surgery...a further medical assessment will be made in three weeks to determine his likely return to play." Lio-Willie was already with the squad as injury cover for Luke Jacobson. Blues loose forward Dalton Papali'I has now been called in to replace Lio-Willie as injury cover for Jacobson. The All Blacks kick off their test series against against France in Dunedin on 5 July. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
CNA
26-06-2025
- Sport
- CNA
All Blacks forward Sititi ruled out of France series
All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi is to undergo surgery on an ankle injury and will miss the three-test series against France in July, the team said on Thursday. The 22-year-old number eight, who was World Rugby's Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2024, will be replaced in the squad by Christian Lio-Willie. Lio-Willie, who is uncapped, was already with the squad as injury cover for Luke Jacobson so openside flanker Dalton Papali'i has now been called up to fill that role. New Zealand host France in the opening test in Dunedin on July 5 before further clashes in Wellington and Hamilton on the following weekends.
Reuters
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
All Blacks forward Sititi ruled out of France series
June 26 (Reuters) - All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi is to undergo surgery on an ankle injury and will miss the three-test series against France in July, the team said on Thursday. The 22-year-old number eight, who was World Rugby's Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2024, will be replaced in the squad by Christian Lio-Willie. Lio-Willie, who is uncapped, was already with the squad as injury cover for Luke Jacobson so openside flanker Dalton Papali'i has now been called up to fill that role. New Zealand host France in the opening test in Dunedin on July 5 before further clashes in Wellington and Hamilton on the following weekends.
RNZ News
31-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Super Rugby Pacific live updates: Blues v Waratahs
Beauden Barrett in action for the Blues against the Waratahs. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Both these teams face sudden death, as they fight it out for the last playoff spot in Super Rugby Pacific. The winners here face a nervous wait to see how Moana Pasifika go in their match against the Hurricanes in Wellington. Kickoff is at 4.35pm NZT. Follow all the action with RNZ's live blog: Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu'a, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5. Laghlan McWhannell, 6. Anton Segner, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. AJ Lam, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele'a, 15. Corey Evans Bench: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Jordan Lay, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Josh Beehre, 20. Adrian Choat, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Harry Plummer, 23. Cole Forbes Waratahs: 1. Angus Bell, 2. David Porecki, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Fergus Lee-Warner, 5. Miles Amatosero, 6. Hugh Sinclair, 7. Jamie Adamson, 8. Langi Gleeson, 9. Teddy Wilson, 10. Jack Bowen, 11. Triston Reilly, 12. Joey Walton, 13. Henry O'Donnell, 14. Andrew Kellaway, 15. Lawson Creighton Bench: 16. Mahe Vailanu, 17. Tom Lambert, 18. Daniel Botha, 19. Ben Grant, 20. Leafi Talataina, 21. Jack Grant, 22. Tane Edmed, 23. Darby Lancaster
