All Black midfielder signs for Aussie Super Rugby side

TRANSFER NEWS: The Western Force confirmed the signing of one-cap All Black centre Matt Proctor ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.

Proctor will join the Force after previous stints with the Melbourne Rebels (2024), Northampton Saints (2019-2023) and the Hurricanes (2013-2019) where he was part of their 2016 Super Rugby triumph.

The 31-year-old back played for the All Blacks in November 2018 against Japan, scoring on debut.

He also notched 12 caps for the Maori All Blacks between 2013 and 2018.

Proctor is renowned for his explosive ball-carrying along with a defensive prowess.

He brings experience, with 72 caps and 12 tries in Super Rugby alongside 72 appearances with 12 tries for Northampton in the English Premiership and European competitions.

“I’m really excited about this move as I see a lot of potential in the Force,” Proctor said.

“The results weren’t quite there last year but looking deeper a lot of the losses were close games, so they weren’t far off, so I can see the potential there.

“The club has made a lot of positive signings over the last 12 months as well. I’m looking forward to a new chapter in my rugby career with my family moving over to Perth.”

Proctor is currently playing in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship with Wellington and will head to Perth along with his partner Mahi and their young children Matai and Maia in November for pre-season.

The midfielder said conversations with fellow Maori All Black Tom Franklin – who spent the 2024 Super Rugby season with the Force – and head coach Simon Cron helped convince him to make the move west.

“When I was contemplating the move, I spoke to Tom who reiterated it’s a great place to live, they’ve got good people around the club and it’s a team that is moving in a positive direction.

“Speaking to Crono, I could see we share similar values and see the game the same way as well. All those things you take into consideration for a move like this.

“In terms of what I can bring, I’ve been around the game for over 10 years, so I can bring experience and the way I see the game can hopefully add to what we’re building at the Force.”

Force head coach Simon Cron was thrilled to secure Proctor’s signature, pointing to his on-field and off-field value.

“He’s a very decorated player who’ll bring a lot on the field,” Cron said. “He’s also a very experienced midfielder who has a really professional attitude towards training and development of those around him.

“The feedback from teams he’s been with in the past has been so positive that we were excited to get him over to Perth.

“He’ll continue to help develop a lot of our back talent, additionally with the most recent injury to Bayley Kuenzle, he really helps us in the backline.”

Proctor’s signing follows the recruitment of Wallabies Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Darcy Swain along with hooker Nic Dolly, dynamic back Divad Palu, front row player Harry Johnson-Holmes, emerging forward Josh Thompson and back row players Vaiolini Ekuasi and Nick Champion de Crespigny, ahead of the 2025 season.

Please welcome to centre stage… Matt Proctor! 🙌

The one-cap All Blacks back will join the Force in the coming months ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.

Read more about his signing to the Force below 👇https://t.co/Cc61EV0TYn

— Western Force (@westernforce) September 11, 2024