All Blacks and Blues superstar Beauden Barrett has signed a short-term deal with a Japanese club that will see him leave New Zealand in December.
The Blues have confirmed this morning the 29-year-old has signed a one-year deal with Suntory after reports surfaced this morning he had signed with the Japanese club on a deal worth $1.5 million-per-year.
In a statement, the Blues said Barrett, who signed a four-year deal with New Zealand Rugby and the Blues last year, will miss next year’s Super Rugby season and play for the Suntory Sungoliath club based in Tokyo, before returning to New Zealand for the 2021 international season.
Barrett will then remain in New Zealand for the rest of his contract until 2023.
According to the statement, Barrett will link with New Zealand coach Milton Haig, the former coach of Georgia, and now the head coach at Suntory Sungoliath, with current England head coach, Eddie Jones acting as a consultant.
The plan to play in Japan in 2021 is part of Barrett’s four-year deal agreed last year with New Zealand Rugby and the Blues.
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