Gisborne’s George Bridge set for Super Rugby return with Western Force

All Black George Bridge, who has been playing in France, is tipped to return to Super Rugby next season in a Western Force jersey. Photo / NZ Herald

Gisborne-raised All Black George Bridge may be playing in Super Rugby Pacific next season.

The winger is “deep in conversation” with Perth-based Western Force who are “poised to sign him”, according to Australian sports website The Roar.

Bridge, a veteran of the 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign, signed a three-year deal with French club Montpellier in 2022 after a successful career with the Crusaders in Super Rugby and 19 tests for the All Blacks.

The Roar says former Crusaders and All Blacks assistant coach (and former All Black) Leon MacDonald, who was recently working as a consultant for the Western Force, suggested the Super Rugby side consider Bridge as a possible recruit.

Bridge, from Manutūkē, went to Awapuni Primary School and Gisborne Intermediate School before heading to Lindisfarne College, where he made the First XV.

He moved to Canterbury as a teenager and enjoyed almost immediate success. He joined the Crusaders academy, was Canterbury’s Under-19 player of the year in 2014, was a New Zealand U20 squad member in 2015 and made his National Provincial Championship debut for Canterbury in 2016.

The son of Crispin and Chick Bridge, he signed for the Crusaders in 2017 and was voted Rookie of the Year by his teammates at the end of that season.

He won a Super Rugby title, of various iterations, every single year before heading for France at the end of 2022.

Bridge played 67 times for the Crusaders, his 37 tries making him the sixth highest try scorer for the franchise.

The winger played 19 tests for the All Blacks between 2018 and 2021 and scored 12 tries.

He scored two tries on debut against Japan in 2018 after coming on as a replacement for Nehe Milner-Skudder.

Bridge had previously played against the All Blacks, scoring two tries for the Barbarians in 2017.

He also played for the British side against the All Blacks XV in 2022.