Former All Black Bird to play for Hurricanes
Former All Blacks lock Dominic Bird is returning from France to New Zealand to his third Super Rugby team.
At 2.06m the tallest All Black on record, the 30-year-old has signed with Wellington for this year’s NPC, and the Hurricanes for next year’s Super Rugby competition.
The Hurricanes confirmed Bird’s signing yesterday, after a stint with French club Racing Metro who he joined in
2018.
Bird emerged from Canterbury while studying at Lincoln University and went on to play for the Crusaders and Chiefs, as well as two All Blacks tests in Japan in 2013 and Scotland the following year.
‘‘I’m excited to be getting back into Super Rugby next year and returning to NZ with my family to live,’’ Bird said.
‘‘We’ve enjoyed our time with Racing Metro in France, and I feel like I’ve been playing some of my best rugby up there, but now is the right time to return home. I’m looking forward to testing myself again in Super Rugby and adding huge value to the Hurricanes in 2022.’’
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland welcomed Bird’s impending arrival in the capital where Scott Scrafton, James Blackwell and Isaia Walker-Leawere were the three frontline locks this year in their disappointing 2-6 Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign.
‘‘We’re really looking forward to seeing Dom turn up and show his experience for the Wellington Lions before he comes into our group,’’ Holland said.
‘‘Speaking with him, we know how much he wants to prove himself again in New Zealand rugby and you can’t beat the sort of experience he will bring to us. He’s a big man who has shown he can match it with some of the toughest forwards in a really challenging competition and we think he will bring real value to the club.’’