Chiefs flanker heads to Japan
Chiefs flanker Lachlan Boshier has again missed All Blacks selection so will not be returning to the Super Rugby club next year, and will instead head to Japan after signing a deal with Panasonic.
Stuff understands the 26-year-old, who has played 64 games for the Chiefs since 2016, will play the NPC season with Taranaki before linking with the Robbie Deanscoached Wild
Knights – this year’s Top
League champions – in
Japan’s new professional competition. The Knights will announce his signing later this month.
Perhaps the unluckiest player going around in New Zealand rugby, such has been his form in recent seasons, Boshier hinted at his potential move by taking the customary after-the-siren conversion attempt afforded to departing players, in last Saturday’s final-round Super Rugby Trans-Tasman win over the Waratahs in Sydney.
It came after yet another masterclass display at the breakdown, with Boshier having consistently been one of the country’s best over the ball in snaffling possession or earning penalties, but still remaining down the national selectors’ pecking order.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster will name his first squad of the season on Monday night but Stuff understands the off-contract Boshier was given the heads-up that he remained out of the picture, and therefore opted not to resign with New Zealand Rugby.
It follows a frustrating 2020 where, despite a best-ever year in the game and a mighty impact in a losing Chiefs side, out of position at No 6, he wasn’t able to crack the national side, even when Ardie Savea was out on paternity leave, which saw Du’Plessis Kirifi picked ahead of him instead.
A week after that, in late October, Boshier spoke to Stuff of his anguish: ‘‘Yeah, obviously a little bit disappointed,’’ he said. ‘‘But, hey, it is what it is. You can’t really dwell on it.
‘‘There’s obviously a s...load of competition, especially in the loose, and he’s [Kirifi] obviously been playing well in the Mitre 10 Cup. I haven’t really been following his game, but good on him, and I hope he goes well.’’