Revealed: Blues star latest to leave New Zealand as Steve Hansen lures players to Japan

The influential blues star is the last to leave New Zealand after this season – and there could be more to come as former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen plays a role in attracting Kiwi players
to Japan. Liam Napier reports.

Tom Robinson will bid the Blues farewell this season as he becomes the latest notable signing in growing New Zealand rugby after the World Cup.

With his redhead, flowing locks, workaholic lock-cum-loose forward Robinson has cultivated something of a cult following since joining the blues in 2019.

Over the past five years, his influence on the blues engine room, whether on the second row or as a blindside flanker, has become invaluable. He has captained the Blues at times over the past two seasons despite being surrounded by All Blacks Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Hoskins Sotutu, Patrick Tuipulotu, Nepo Laulala and Ofa Tuungafasi.

But after knocking on the door of national selection for the last two years herald Understandably, however, Robinson has signed a multi-year contract with Japanese club Toyota Verblitz. It is expected that he will depart with Northland after the NPC campaign, leaving a huge void in both teams.

Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is a major influence on Toyota’s ambitious recruiting campaign, which has already secured All Blacks centurions Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith and now 28-year-old Robinson for next season.

The herald Hansen is also in talks to sign the Highlanders’ Josh Dickson, who was called up with the national team last year and performed for the All Blacks XV on their two-game North tour.

Struggling to compete with their Kiwi rivals to attract and retain talent, the Highlanders are preparing to bid farewell to the influential All Blacks without Shannon Frizell at the end of the season.

Japanese top-league clubs are now limited to three international-limited tryouts in their matchday squads. As non-captive internationals, Robinson and Dickson are therefore increasingly valuable assets.

From a super rugby perspective, this duo represents the next level of talent on the cusp of All Blacks selection. The loss of players from that group, and the likes of Chiefs midfielder Alex Nankivell, who left for Irish club Munster after that super rugby campaign, erodes New Zealand’s dwindling experience.

On an individual basis, however, these players often have the opportunity to double their onboard earnings, and the end of the four-year World Cup cycle is a traditional time for career-changing decisions.

Robinson, a product of Kerikeri High School who has gone on to become one of the blues’ most enduring players, battled a concussion-induced vertigo last year that limited him to two games in Northland’s impressive NPC campaign.

While he has since completed a staged return for the Blues that included a stunning second-round solo attempt against the Brumbies, that issue may have contributed to his decision to leave.

In addition to Barrett and Smith, fellow All Blacks Richie Mo’unga, Brodie Retallick, Frizell and Pita Gus Sowakula will also depart after the World Championship. Brad Weber has been widely associated with a move to France; Dane Coles is retiring and Sam Whitelock’s future remains uncertain.

Barrett has yet to determine if he will return to New Zealand after initially signing a one-year deal with Toyota.

Others like in-form Crusaders wing Leicester Fainga’anuku, Blues brothers Rieko and Akira Ioane, in-form Chiefs full-back Shaun Stevenson and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck are also among those yet to decide their future.