Brodie Retallick refuses to be tempted by Dave Rennie and insists that his All Blacks career is over despite ploughing on in the club game.
The legendary lock has stated that he will continue his career beyond the next Rugby World Cup but that it will not be at Test level, unless there are changes to NZ Rugby’s overseas policy.
Retallick last featured for New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup final but Rennie was open about wanting to bring him back.
However, the 35-year-old is very content in Japan and has made peace with the fact that he will not put on the black jersey again.
‘I left on my own terms’
Asked on the Sportscafe Legends podcast whether Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour made him miss playing for the All Blacks he responded: “Not anymore.”
Retallick then added: “After the World Cup, maybe it was the way of losing the final in France, the year or two after that, I would sit there and watch the ABs and say to myself, ‘could I still do it? Am I still good enough?’
“I think enough time’s passed now and I was happy when I did leave. I felt like I left on my own terms, which I was pretty happy about.
“Dave Rennie was here coaching the last couple of years and he threw it out there a few times about coming back, but I think my time’s done.”
Retallick was pressed on whether he is thinking about the World Cup in Australia, which starts in just under a year’s time, the Kobe Steelers second-row’s response was once again blunt.
“Not really, no,” he said. “I haven’t really considered it. Until they change the rules, it’s not even a possibility, so I’m not even going to entertain it.
“I’m 35 now, I’ve got this season and one more on my Kobe contract and I think that will probably be it for me.”
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Despite saying the 2027/28 season may well be his last, Retallick did then open up the possibility of joining a team in Europe or the USA.
“I thought I would be done by now. I had some plans and life changes but I would like to see these couple of seasons out and, who knows, maybe try a stint in an Italy or an America, just for the life experience, and then head back to the Bay,” he said.
“I don’t know if coaching is for me. I’ve learned a lot of things with techniques and styles over the years, and whether to be involved in younger grade rugby to try and influence some people, but I’m more of a fly by the seat of my pants, and when it happens it happens, so we will work it out when we get there.”
Retallick happy in Japan
Part of the reason Retallick has ruled out playing for the All Blacks is his love of playing in Japan. Having also spent two years at Kobe between the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, Retallick is now set for his sixth season at the club.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “Probably off the field is just as much as a highlight than on the field. The way we play at Kobe is completely different to a lot of the Japan teams.
“We will attack from anywhere on the field pretty much, if we see the space, probably hence why we score so many tries.
“Last year in particular we got the balance right and we won a League One title, the first time I’ve won here in eight years, so it was pretty special to be a part of that.
“I’ve been the captain the last three seasons so I was pretty chuffed as a foreigner to come over here and earn a little bit of their respect and lead them to a title. It’s not something everyone gets to do.”
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