All Blacks flanker Shannon Frizell admits that it is “likely” he will commit his immediate future to Japanese side Toshiba Brave Lupus, but he still has the 2027 Rugby World Cup in his sights.
The 31-year-old has been in Asia since the end of the 2023 World Cup, therefore forgoing the chance to play for New Zealand.
Frizell is now out of contract having helped Toshiba to a second consecutive Japan Rugby League One title and is weighing up his future, but he doesn’t see himself returning to New Zealand for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
“It’s likely that I’ll be in Japan for another season. Firstly, I’m going to have a good break with my family and then we’ll see what happens,” he told RugbyJP.com
Set to return to New Zealand
While Frizell appears set to commit to Toshiba for next season, he has reportedly set his sights on the upcoming World Cup.
According to the New Zealand Herald, the flanker will sign a one-year extension in Japan before moving back home ahead of the global tournament in 2027.
He is hoping to put himself in the frame for the World Cup in Australia having become a key part of Ian Foster’s All Blacks team during their run to the final in 2023.
Frizell will likely follow in the footsteps of Toshiba team-mate Richie Mo’unga, who is also expected to head back to New Zealand in an attempt to fulfil his international and World Cup ambitions.
Mo’unga revealed earlier this year that he is determined to feature in Australia in 2027.
“Obviously, I want to play in another Rugby World Cup,” he told Sky Sport NZ. “I’m not just saying that, this is stuff that people haven’t heard from my mouth.
“I found a real true love for the game coming back to Japan. I wasn’t someone over here trying to prove something.
“I was I guess more in a giving phase where I wanted to help develop players, I wanted to help develop coaches and develop a team.”
Quite who Mo’unga will represent at the World Cup remains to be seen, however, given that he will be eligible for Samoa and Tonga by the end of 2026, although his preference will no doubt be the All Blacks.
Frizell could find himself in a similar scenario should All Blacks boss Scott Robertson not want him, with the back-rower being born and raised in Tonga.
All Blacks back-row balance
The blindside flanker is now the wrong side of 30, but he was superb in both the build-up and during the 2023 World Cup.
He provided balance to the loose trio and, with Wallace Sititi likely to move to number eight, Robertson will be looking for another six.
They have ultimately struggled to fill that position since Jerome Kaino retired from Test rugby. Foster finally found an answer in Frizell, only for the ex-Highlanders star to depart New Zealand ahead of Robertson’s arrival as head coach.
He did stumble on youngster Sititi midway through the 2024 Test season, who would then go on to become World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year, but as mentioned, he may well shift to the base of the scrum this year, leaving the blindside slot open.
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