All Blacks Star Dalton Papali’i Hints at Overseas Move Amidst Coaching Discord
A potential exodus looms for New Zealand rugby as All Blacks loose forward Dalton Papali’i has strongly indicated he will pursue opportunities with an overseas club before his current contract expires at the end of 2025. The 28-year-old’s future with the national team appears increasingly uncertain, fueled by reports of a strained relationship with recently ousted head coach Scott Robertson and a diminished role within the squad.
Papali’i, reflecting on his nine years in New Zealand rugby, acknowledged a shift in perspective. “I’ve been here for nine years or so… I have a lot of things in perspective now,” he told 1News. “I want to grow the family and you hear a lot of people heading overseas to help their financial side out. This is home for me, where I grew up and I want to leave the jersey in a better place. I’m still weighing it up.”
The player’s limited playing time last year – a single Test appearance off the bench against France in July – underscores his peripheral status. Having earned his All Blacks debut in 2018, Papali’i has accumulated 37 Test caps, but was notably excluded from both the Rugby Championship and November squads in 2023.
While Papali’i remained guarded regarding his dynamic with Robertson, who was relieved of his duties in January, he confirmed his involvement in the review process that led to the coach’s dismissal. “I was yeah but I’ll keep that to myself,” he stated. The situation highlights a period of significant upheaval within the All Blacks organization.
A return to provincial rugby with Counties Manukau proved revitalizing for Papali’i. “Going back to Counties was probably the best thing for me because I fell in love with the game again,” he explained. “Playing with those boys who want to get to the next level and seeing how much knowledge they want to soak up and how hard they want to work brings you back down to earth.” Despite a challenging start to the season – a 0-5 record – the team rallied and nearly defeated Canterbury in the quarterfinals.
Papali’i also praised his experience captaining the All Blacks XV under coach Jamie Joseph last November, leading the team to three victories against the Barbarians, England A, and Uruguay. “I really had a good relationship with Jamie Jo and … I felt like I was back to my old self [at the All Blacks XV],” he said. “I feel like I play better with the weight of being a leader. Going into the ABs XV, I got that role back again, the captaincy, and I took it with both hands. I enjoyed it and felt like I played well again.”
Reflecting on his time on the fringes of the All Blacks squad, Papali’i admitted to moments of self-doubt. “I’ve done some reflection on that and at the time you think ‘oh, I’m not good enough’, or ‘it’s a couple of men’s opinions that are holding you down’, but going back to Counties and the ABs XV reminds you about why you want to play.” He acknowledged the noticeable shift in leadership from previous coaches Sir Steve Hansen and Ian Foster to Robertson’s approach. “I was there when Shag [Sir Steve Hansen] and Fozzie [Ian Foster] were there holding the helm [at the All Blacks]. Seeing it change to Razor’s agenda – you could see there was a big difference. People spoke up and they had to have a review. We followed that process… What happened, happened.”
The recent resumption of the Blues captaincy, following Patrick Tuipulotu’s shoulder injury – with the lock expected to return in April – offers Papali’i a leadership role domestically. Becoming a father last year has also profoundly impacted his outlook. “It’s helped ground me,” he shared. “I used to be really rugby focused. When you’re in this line of work the best thing is you have to be on every day coming into work. But you find a balance when you come home and there’s a dog at the door and your partner’s holding a baby.”
Viewers can see the full interview with Dalton Papali’i on 1News today from 6pm.
