Whitelock set for shock domestic return

All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock is in line to make a shock return for the Crusaders this year, and could even turn out in Canterbury colours during the Mitre 10 Cup.

Whitelock, a warm favourite to be the next All Blacks captain, returned to New Zealand earlier than expected from a one-season deal in Japan due to the coronavirus crisis, and New Zealand Rugby has revealed to Stuff that he is now free to play for the Super Rugby champions in a revised tournament structure.

‘‘It’s absolutely possible,’’ NZ Rugby head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum said yesterday.

‘‘At the moment the current Sanzaar rules would prevent Sam from being involved in the finals series, depending on when he was cleared back into New Zealand.

‘‘But clearly, with a whole lot of

‘‘It’s certainly possible that he could play for Canterbury.’’ Chris Lendrum, NZR, on Sam Whitelock, right, in a rare appearance for his province in 2009

this stuff a good hard look is going to be taken at the rules we have.

‘‘There will be all sorts of irregularities around player movement caused by this crisis and the current lockdown.’’

Whitelock’s potential return would be a massive boost not only to the Crusaders, but to any revised Kiwi-only Super Rugby competition that NZ Rugby can construct in line with government guidelines around Covid-19.

If guidelines are sufficiently relaxed, and NZ Rugby is happy that games can be played in an environment that safeguards the players and staff needed to stage events, some form of Super Rugby competition could be up and running in the coming months.

Lendrum also indicated that Whitelock could make a rare appearance in provincial colours, something that would give a jolt of electricity to the provincial game.

‘‘It’s certainly possible that he could play for Canterbury if the All Blacks are available through to Mitre 10 Cup,’’ Lendrum said.

Whitelock is currently heading up a competition structure committee that is looking into various models for the return of rugby.

However, Lendrum has some bad news for Chiefs fans hoping that Brodie Retallick could also return this year.

‘‘Brodie Retallick’s contracted to Kobe until the end of the ’20-21 season,’’ he said.

‘‘We haven’t had any specific conversations with Brodie that would indicate that his plans have changed as result of this. Our current expectation is that we don’t have him playing here in 2020.’’

Lendrum also said the coronavirus crisis could prove to be a turning point for New Zealand rugby, and he had already heard some anecdotal stories that distressed overseas clubs were withdrawing contracts to Kiwi players.

‘‘I’m not going into specifics but overseas has become a lot less attractive for players all of a sudden, for families in particular,’’ Lendrum said.

‘‘There’s some anecdotal information around contract withdrawals, but mainly like everyone else we’re watching the industry news and seeing the distress that overseas clubs are in.

‘‘They’ve largely shut down their contracting activity, as we have for the time being.

‘‘It’s challenging but it also gives me some hope for the future in the sense that New Zealand Rugby, if we can remain sustainable and viable, we may come out of this in better shape.

‘‘We may become an even more attractive place to stay and live than we are now.’’