New Zealand rugby captain Sam Cane has decided to take a break from the game and play a season in Japan. After the disappointment of losing in the World Cup final, Cane has chosen to join the Suntory Sungoliath team in Japan’s Rugby League One. This means he will miss the 2024 Super Rugby campaign in New Zealand. Cane admitted that it wasn’t an easy decision to skip a season with his current team, the Chiefs, but he believes they have a strong squad and coaching group that can succeed without him. The opportunity to play for Suntory in 2024 felt like the right time for Cane to try something new after the Rugby World Cup. Cane, who has played 95 tests for New Zealand, was sent off in the World Cup final for a high tackle. This made him the first male player in World Cup history to be sent off in the final. Cane acknowledges that it’s something he will have to live with forever. Despite his time in Japan, Cane’s national contract with New Zealand Rugby runs until the end of 2025. He plans to return to New Zealand next June and make himself available for selection in the All Blacks team. Mark Robinson, the CEO of New Zealand Rugby, praised Cane’s commitment to the national team and expressed his excitement for Cane’s return for the Test season.
Sam Cane Takes a Break from Rugby to Play in Japan
