3. Beauden Barrett – Toyota Verblitz
Joining Aaron Smith in the Aichi region of Japan is all-time great New Zealand back Beauden Barrett. Toyota Verblitz have certainly bolstered their ranks ahead of the 2023/24 season, with Smith and Barrett expected to link up in a formidable halfback partnership. This is not Barrett’s first venture to Japan, as the 32-year-old spent the Covid disrupted 2020/21 season with Suntory Sungoliath.
Barrett led Sungoliath all the way to the final that year, however he could not claim any silverware as his side was defeated 31-26 by the Wild Knights. Flying under the ‘Panasonic Wild Knights’ banner before their sponsorship changed to Saitama, the Wild Knights roster boasted the likes of England lock George Kruis and a strong contingency of the Brave Blossoms national side. Barrett returned to New Zealand for a three season stint with the Auckland Blues, having previously starred for the Hurricanes alongside his brother and All Blacks teammate Jordie Barrett.
Barrett returns to Japan with the goal of going one better than his last run in the Far East. He and Smith will be re-united with a recent opponent at Verblitz, in the form of 2023 Rugby World Cup winning flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit. The door remains open for Barrett to return to the All Blacks, as unlike Smith, Barrett has not confirmed his long-term plans to be away from the black jersey. Barrett ended his Rugby World Cup campaign by scoring the only try in the final, which sees him take an impressive accolade of scoring tries in two instalments of the showpiece match (1st vs Australia in 2015 RWC Final).
4. Sam Whitelock – Section Paloise
Despite not clinching the immortal accolade of becoming the only man to win three Rugby World Cups, legendary All Blacks second row Sam Whitelock had a record-breaking final run with the national side. Ahead of departing for pastures new at French Top 14 side Section Paloise, Whitelock ended his international career as the most-capped All Black of all time. Whitelock made his 150th test match cap in the 96-17 walkover win against Italy, as New Zealand closed out Pool A in emphatic fashion.
Whitelock surpassed the long standing record held by two-time Rugby World Cup winning captain Richie McCaw, and this was not the only accolade he took from his former teammate. Whitelock made his 25th Rugby World Cup cap in the final defeat to South Africa, after previously surpassing McCaw’s record of 23, which he shared with former England prop Jason Leonard. Whitelock made his 152nd and final All Blacks cap in the Rugby World Cup Final, as he ran out for a 26-minute replacement appearance.
An iconic Crusader, Whitelock deserves his time in France after taking the Christchurch side to the Super Rugby mountain top seven times. He is a Super Rugby Centurion, and ends his time in the competition as the fourth most-capped Super Rugby player in history, with 180 caps for the Crusaders. Whitelock will now go on to ply his trade in Pau, and could well run out in the upcoming EPCR Challenge Cup that begins in December. An icon of the All Blacks, 35-year-old Whitelock is moving on to his next challenge for his maiden run in Europe.