All Blacks: Fehi Fineanganofo to remain in New Zealand after negotiating exit from Newcastle deal
All Blacks winger Fehi Fineanganofo will remain in New Zealand for one more season after negotiating an exit from his contract with Newcastle Red Bulls. The move allows him to compete for a spot in the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
Why it matters
This highlights the tension between international player availability for national teams and the commercial interests of overseas club contracts.
All Blacks winger Fehi Fineanganofo’s move to English club Newcastle Red Bulls has been put on hold for one season, after he re-signed with New Zealand Rugby until after next year’s Rugby World Cup.
The 24-year-old was due to join the Premiership Rugby side after the 2026 NPC season, having signed a two-year deal with Newcastle in January.
However, he hada breakout Super Rugby Pacific season with the Hurricanes, where he set a record for most tries in a season with 17, which teammate Josh Moorby equalled, in winning the franchise’s first title since 2016.
He caught the eye of All Blacks coach Dave Rennie and was selected in his squad for the Nations Championship and tour of South Africa.
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