League One champion and Most Valuable Player (MVP) winner Richie Mo’unga will see out his existing Toshiba Brave Lupus contract after talks with New Zealand Rugby about an early release broke down.
New Zealand media outlet 1 News reported on Wednesday that Mo’unga, Toshiba officials and All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson as well as NZR chief executive Mark Robinson met late last year but failed to thrash out a deal for the ex-Crusaders star to return home.
The 30-year-old is in the second season of a three-year contract with Todd Blackadder’s Toshiba team and is understood to be settled in Japan.
Mo’unga’s agent Cam McIntyre, of LittleGIANT Sports, told 1News: “Discussions stalled at the end of last season.
“There is currently no change to the terms of Richie’s contract (at Toshiba).”
Mo’unga, who has 56 Test caps for the All Blacks, is currently ineligible for selection due to New Zealand Rugby’s rigid selection protocol of not picking overseas-based players.

The much-admired fly-half was understood to be keen to reunite with his former boss Scott Robertson and return to the All Blacks fold if a deal materialised but would prefer for the body to amend their selection criteria.
Mo’unga and Toshiba teammate Shannon Frizell’s last Test appearance was the World Cup final defeat to South Africa in October 2023.
Both players inspired Toshiba to their first League One title last season and the defending champions sit second this season with four wins from five games.
Mo’unga and Frizell (below) both crossed in the Fuchu club’s loss to Kwagga Smith’s Shizuoka Blue Revs on Saturday.

Frizell, 30, is now in the second and final year of his Toshiba contract and will be available to New Zealand this summer.
Toshiba return to action against Pablo Matera and Franco Mostert’s vastly improved Mie Honda Heat in Suzuka on Sunday 2 February.
Pictures courtesy of JRLO
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