Club buzzing at All Black cameo
All Black TJ Perenara’s first game of rugby in five weeks was the epitome of grassroots.
The star halfback, recently back from a stint playing in Japan, helped his beloved Norths team to a 22-12 away win over Wellington rivals, Tawa, in boggy, rainy conditions.
It was the 69-test veteran’s first step back towards playing for the All Blacks.
After the game Perenara told the Sunday Star-Times that he last played in May, and has been back in New Zealand for five weeks, including two weeks in managed isolation.
‘‘It was really good to be out here for Norths. I haven’t played at Lyndhurst Park for a few years, so to be able to play against an old foe was really cool.
‘‘Some of my good mates are in that team as well, but just to get out and run around with the boys . . . was cool.’’
There were no signs of rust as he helped guide his team to the win, while playing first-five.
‘‘It was just a little bit different being at 10 [first-five] for that long.’’
He said his immediate focus was playing a few more games for Norths, then the Bunnings Cup, before beginning his ‘‘pursuit for the black jersey’’.
‘‘I felt I could have played last week or even the week before, but just making sure because I had so
much downtime in isolation, I needed to make sure I had my reps up before getting out on the field with the boys.’’
Perenara re-committed to New Zealand Rugby and the Hurricanes in May.
He had been on a sabbatical playing for the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes in Japan’s Top League competition.
Norths head coach Gerrard Fasavalu said Perenara’s return had immediately lifted the team.
‘‘It’s been massive, we’ve had a great week, and he’s been exceptional,’’ he said.
‘‘He’s homegrown, so he’s just like one of the boys. Any opportunity he gets he always comes home to give back and impart his knowledge, especially with the young guys.’’
Perenara made one appearance for the club last year.
‘‘You don’t see it too often where you see the Super players and guys who’ve put on the black jersey come back, and it’s great for the kids,’’ Fasavalu said.
Deano Wood, the organiser of the Norths supporters club for the past 12 years, said there was a buzz when Perenara’s name was confirmed for the team list on Friday.
‘‘That’s when the excitement levels hit, because it’s lovely seeing the young fella out in Norths colours,’’ Wood said.
‘‘He commands a lot of respect from the club. The players just lift straight away’’.
The 29-year-old Perenara is under contract until the end of the 2023 season, taking in the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
He is the most capped Hurricane of all time and has played 140 games for the Wellington-based team since making his Super Rugby debut in 2012.
‘‘Just to get out and run around with the boys ... was cool.’’ TJ Perenara