Latest news with #Lienert-Brown
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Lienert-Brown re-signs
All Blacks midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown has extended his contract with New Zealand Rugby, the Chiefs and Waikato through to the end of 2028. Lienert-Brown, whose existing contract ran to the end of 2026, said his passion for the teams and communities he represents meant it was an easy decision to continue to play his rugby in New Zealand for a further two seasons. He has 86 test caps for the All Blacks and has played 126 games for the Chiefs and 22 for Waikato. Lienert-Brown will activate an existing sabbatical clause in his contract next season to join fellow All Black Ardie Savea at the Kobe Steelers in Japan League One. The pair will return to New Zealand at the end of the Japanese season and be available for the All Blacks. — APL
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Lienert-Brown latest to look to Japan
Anton Lienert-Brown has had an interrupted season due to injury, but chalked up his 86th cap for the All Blacks last weekend. Veteran All Blacks midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown will miss Super Rugby next year as part of a sabbatical to play in Japan. It is allowed for in his current contract, which is valid until the end of 2026. His new contract announced today will see him available for the All Blacks, the Chiefs in Super Rugby and Waikato in the NPC until the end of 2028. The 30-year-old chalked up his 86th cap for the All Blacks in their third test against France in Hamilton last Saturday. He will team up with Ardie Savea at the Kobe Steelers for Japan's League One competition, where his former mentor at the Chiefs, Dave Rennie, is coach and former All Blacks and Chiefs teammate Brodie Retallick is captain. Lienert-Brown and Savea will return home after their stints in Japan and be available for the All Blacks' July series. Lienert-Brown has had an interrupted season, after a month out with a leg injury followed by a few months recuperating from a broken collarbone suffered against Perth-based Western Force in April. "I'm excited to re-commit to New Zealand Rugby through to 2028. This year's been frustrating with injuries outside of my control but pulling on the black jersey again last Saturday reminded me just how special this journey really is. "Representing Waikato, the Chiefs, and my country is something I never take for granted. My decision to stay reflects my commitment - not just to the teams I play for, but to giving everything I've got to the work that lies ahead." Lienert-Brown has played 126 games through 12 Super Rugby campaigns and 22 matches for Waikato. All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson said Lienert-Brown was a player who embodied the values of the All Blacks jersey. "His experience, composure, and clarity in the midfield are hugely valuable. He's overcome injury setbacks in recent years and has shown real resilience. "We're thrilled to have him locked in through to 2028, and the experience he'll gain in Japan will only enhance his game and leadership."
1News
6 days ago
- Sport
- 1News
All Blacks midfielder re-commits to NZ Rugby, confirms sabbatical
All Blacks midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown has extended his contract with New Zealand Rugby through to the end of 2028 and has confirmed he will take a sabbatical in Japan next year. Lienert-Brown, who has played 86 Tests and scored a try in the recent win over France in Hamilton, said this year had been a tough one due to injuries and he was pleased to secure his short-term future. A broken collarbone suffered while playing for the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific meant he was out of the game for nearly three months – his comeback match was a start for the All Blacks in their 29-19 victory over France in the third Test. "I'm excited to re-commit to New Zealand Rugby through to 2028," Lienert-Brown, 30, said in a statement. "This year's been frustrating with injuries outside of my control but pulling on the black jersey again last Saturday reminded me just how special this journey really is." ADVERTISEMENT As revealed by 1News in April, Lienert-Brown will activate a sabbatical clause in his contract and play for Kobe Steelers next year. Fellow senior All Black Ardie Savea, who captained the team in the absence of Scott Barrett during the past two Tests, has since announced he will also play a sabbatical season at Kobe next year alongside former All Black Brodie Retallick. Anton Lienert-Brown scores a crucial try for the All Blacks before halftime against France. (Source: Photosport) Leinert-Brown and Savea will return to New Zealand in time to be available for next July's home internationals. Fellow midfielder or wing Rieko Ioane will also take a sabbatical next year to play for Leinster with a view to returning in time to play for the All Blacks. All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson said: "Anton is a true professional and a player who embodies the values of the All Blacks jersey. "His experience, composure, and clarity in the midfield are hugely valuable. He's overcome injury setbacks in recent years and has shown real resilience. We're thrilled to have him locked in through to 2028. The experience he'll gain in Japan will only enhance his game and leadership." ADVERTISEMENT Robertson will hope Lienert-Brown returns with the same sort of form as Jordie Barrett after the midfielder's own recent sabbatical at Leinster in Ireland. NZR general manager professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum said: 'Anton's loyalty, work ethic and consistency have been hallmarks of his career at every level and we are delighted he has chosen to extend through to a potential third Rugby World Cup campaign." Chiefs head coach Jono Gibbes said: "Anton is a massive asset to the Gallagher Chiefs, and this sabbatical is a great opportunity for him to experience a different rugby environment and learn from a new playing style. I look forward to seeing how this experience shapes him as a player and what he brings back to the team."
1News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- 1News
Exclusive: All Blacks, Chiefs midfielder to announce Japan sabbatical
Chiefs and All Blacks midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown will miss Super Rugby next year to take a sabbatical season at Japanese club Kobe, 1News understands. Several sources told 1News today that Lienert-Brown will link with former Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie and lock Brodie Retallick at Kobe, a club currently placed fifth of 12 teams in Japan's League One competition. Lienert-Brown's signing is doubly significant given incumbent All Blacks' and Blues' centre Rieko Ioane will bypass Super Rugby next year to play for Leinster in Ireland. Lienert-Brown, 30, has played 84 times for the All Blacks but has been used mainly in a replacement role at the top level. It is nevertheless a job he has performed admirably, especially in the 2023 World Cup in France where he excelled off the bench in his team's epic quarter-final victory over Ireland in Paris. Currently injured — 1News understands Lienert-Brown has a broken collarbone which will sideline him for about eight weeks — he will be a big loss for the Chiefs next year in the absence of head coach Clayton McMillan, who has signed for Irish club Munster. The Lienert-Brown and Ioane sabbatical signings come on top of wing Mark Tele'a's recent announcement that he will leave the Blues and All Blacks to play for Japanese club Toyota at the end of this Super Rugby Pacific season. Lienert-Brown's decision will likely put more scrutiny on Scott Robertson's long-term midfield options at the All Blacks, with Leicester Fainga'anuku's return from France highly anticipated and Hurricanes' centre Billy Proctor excelling on his return from injury against the Brumbies in Canberra at the weekend. Hurricane Jordie Barrett, currently on sabbatical himself at Leinster, is a near certainty as the All Blacks' second-five, but Ioane's uncertain form in a struggling Blues team leaves a question mark over who will wear the No.13 Test jersey this year and beyond.
