All Blacks captain Sam Cane will call time on his international career at the end of the 2024 season, in order to take up a contract with Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath, as the veteran loose forward concedes he won’t captain the All Blacks in 2024.
In
a statement, New Zealand Rugby confirmed the news that Cane will walk away from the test arena at the end of the upcoming season, 12 years after making his international debut, after being released from the final year of his contract with the national union.
From 2025, Cane will take up a three-year contract with Suntory, where the 32-year-old has spent the start of 2024 on a sabbatical.
“A good opportunity came my way with Suntory Sungoliath willing to offer me a three-year contract,” Cane said. “It was something we had to seriously consider as a family due to the stage I am at in my career. It will see me through to 2027, when I’ll have my 35th birthday.
“I had to weigh up everything and in the end, with a young family, it seemed like the best decision to help set up our future. It was a very hard one because I love the teams that I represent here in New Zealand.
