Springboks won’t face Richie Mo’unga in 2026
NEWS: Richie Mo’unga will not feature against the Springboks in South Africa this year after New Zealand Rugby reaffirmed its strict eligibility rules for the All Blacks.
Despite Mo’unga signing an 18-month deal to return to Canterbury and the Crusaders ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, the star flyhalf remains ineligible for the July Test window and the highly anticipated Rugby Championship clashes in South Africa.
The decision means the Springboks will not have to contend with one of world rugby’s premier playmakers during the two nations’ latest chapter of their fierce rivalry.
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Lancaster confirmed that no exemption had been requested for Mo’unga, despite growing pressure around the All Blacks’ overseas-based player policy.
“We’re very clear and have a strong amount of belief in our policy for selection to the All Blacks,” Lancaster told Newstalk ZB.
The current rules restrict All Blacks selection to players contracted in New Zealand, a stance NZR believes is essential to keeping elite talent in the country and maintaining the strength of domestic rugby.
Lancaster admitted the organisation continues to lose players overseas but insisted the policy remains critical.
“Players get to a point in their career where they want to experience a new culture or a new environment and earn significant money doing that,” he said. “That’s just the reality of professional sport.”
However, he stressed that changing the rules for Mo’unga would create complications for players who stayed in New Zealand under the current system.
“We’ve got world-class players in the same position who committed to staying in New Zealand based on that policy,” Lancaster explained. “We have to think about the implications of relaxing it.”
Mo’unga’s absence will be especially notable for the All Blacks’ tour to South Africa, where matches against the Springboks are expected to play a major role in shaping momentum ahead of the next World Cup cycle.
The 31-year-old flyhalf has been one of the defining figures in recent All Blacks-Springboks clashes, starting at No.10 during the last two Rugby World Cups and regularly steering the Crusaders to success against South African opposition during the Super Rugby era.
There remains a slim possibility he could still feature later in the season if injuries strike the All Blacks after he resumes playing in New Zealand.
Lancaster acknowledged that returning players can become eligible once they are back competing domestically and have participated in the required competitions.
“That means Richie will not be named in the initial squads for either the July Series or Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry,” he confirmed. “But once he’s back in New Zealand and playing, and if we do have injuries, then potentially he could be eligible.”
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