Brodie Retallick has made it clear he will not be drawn back to New Zealand for one final Test campaign at the Rugby World Cup 2027. Despite a recent standout performance in Japan that reignited talk of a potential All Blacks return. The veteran lock says his international career is firmly behind him and that his body has given all it can at the Test level.
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Retallick, who earned 109 caps for the All Blacks and was named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2014. Found himself back in the headlines this week after scoring an eye-catching four tries for the Kobe Kobelco Steelers in a dominant 67–21 victory over the Ricoh Black Rams.
The performance inevitably sparked speculation about whether he could follow a similar path to former teammate Richie Mo’unga and return home in time for the next World Cup. However, Retallick was quick to shut down those suggestions.
Speaking to Sport Nation’s Millsy and Guy, the 34-year-old said his time in the black jersey is a closed chapter and not something he is interested in reopening. I think my time is done, to be honest, he said. Now and then, you might wonder if you could still do it. But at the end of the day, the body is getting older.
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Rugby World Cup: Japan to Be Retallick’s Final Rugby Chapter
After spending this long away from home, I feel like those days are behind me. I’ll see my career out in Japan. I can confirm that today. Retallick signed a three-year deal with Kobe in 2023, a contract that runs through to 2026 and technically leaves the door open for a late return to New Zealand rugby.
But unlike Mo’unga, who has openly discussed future options, Retallick says he is content with where he is and what lies ahead. He laughed off his four-try haul against the Black Rams, describing it as a bit silly and a bit out of hand. But admitted he is thoroughly enjoying life and rugby in Kobe.
He believes the current season has the potential to be the strongest of his time with the club. Much of that optimism comes from Kobe’s impressive squad depth. The arrival of reigning New Zealand Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea has added significant star power.
While the signing of All Blacks midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown has helped offset the loss of Ngani Laumape, who has moved to Moana Pasifika. Both Savea and Lienert-Brown are with the Steelers on one-year deals, made possible through sabbatical clauses in their New Zealand Rugby contracts.
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Rugby World Cup Final: Retallick Highlights Key Differences in Japan Rugby
Five rounds into the Japan Rugby League One season, Kobe sits third on the table with four wins and one loss. Their only defeat came in the opening round against competition leaders Kubota Spears. I’ve definitely been enjoying it, Retallick said. It’s a good club in a good place, and this year in particular we’ve got a really strong squad.
We’ve got big goals, the rugby’s going well, and there’s honestly not much to complain about. Reflecting on the differences between his decade in Super Rugby and his experience in Japan, Retallick pointed to defence and physicality as the main contrasts.
Defensively, that’s probably the biggest difference, he said. The game is just as fast, if not faster, than Super Rugby. Some teams have massive forward packs, but others don’t quite have the same size. That means the contact isn’t always at the same intensity you’d see week to week in New Zealand.
Elsewhere, speculation continues in New Zealand about coaching options for the All Blacks. But Springboks assistant coach Tony Brown appears firmly committed to South Africa’s current World Cup cycle. Brown joined Rassie Erasmus’s coaching group in 2024 and signed a four-year deal that runs through to the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
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