Sir Graham Henry: NZR should be flexible with Mo’unga and Retallick

World Cup-winning former All Blacks head coach Sir Graham Henry believes that New Zealand Rugby (NZR) should take a flexible approach regarding the eligibility of Japan-based Richie Mo’unga, Shannon Frizell and Brodie Retallick this summer.

Henry, 79, was this week appointed as a NZR selector as new head coach Dave Rennie announced the legendary coach’s return to the All Blacks fold during his press conference in Auckland on Tuesday.

The former Wales boss has had several short coaching stints in Japan with Waseda University including leading the famed students' side to All-Japan University Championship glory in 1989.

Henry, who was speaking to New Zealand Herald presenter Ryan Bridge, is keenly aware of the exodus of All Blacks from Super Rugby and would like to see Toshiba Brave Lupus' Mo’unga and Kobe Steelers captain Retallick fast-tracked back into the national team.

“We're seeing more New Zealand players playing overseas,” said Henry who coached the All Blacks from 2004 to 2011 and signed off with a record of 88 wins in 103 tests.

“It's a question that's been asked all the time, isn't it? Should we select players from overseas. I think we're becoming more flexible on that and trying to do our best to include the best players in the All Blacks team."

Henry, who guided his country to a home World Cup triumph against France in 2011, would like to see returning internationals immediately reintegrated into the national team.

“When they (overseas-based All Blacks) come back, they could play for the All Blacks virtually straight away rather than have to go through other competitions to qualify so I guess every case is is dealt as an individual case.

“That's greater flexibility than what the current law is for players coming back from overseas.”

Henry specifically mentioned Mo’unga and Retallick, and later Frizell, who will all be in League One Play-Offs action this month, and are two players Rennie has said are on his summer wishlist despite the currently eligibility rules. “Richie Mo’unga, for example, has played over 50 tests, Brodie Retallick has over 100. They've done they've done their service, they they've been great All Blacks and so I think you know there should be flexibility in that case because they've gone through the hard yards.”

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Henry, who was dubbed ‘The Great Redeemer’ after turning around the fortunes of Wales in the late 1990s, added: “We're getting a lot of young players looking at overseas contracts right now. And that's the big challenge for New Zealand rugby. We’ve got Brody Retallick and Richie Mo’unga overseas and Shannon Frizell but they're probably the only three right now who maybe get into the All Blacks team.”

New Zealand Rugby’s newly-appointed chief executive Steve Lancaster recently reiterated the organisation's stance on the eligibility of overseas players and confirmed that Mo’unga will not be available for selection this summer.

Back-to-back League One winner and MVP Mo’unga, 31, is in the final month of his three-year contract with Todd Blackadder’s Toshiba side and will return to New Zealand in June on an 18-month contract.

The contract, which was announced in August 2025, stipulated that the world-renowned playmaker would be required to play for Canterbury in the NPC this summer before he becomes eligible for the All Blacks from October.

However, with the appointment of Kobe Steelers head coach Rennie as Scott Robertson’s successor and his openness – during his first press conference - in wanting to pick Mo’unga and League One’s top try scorer Retallick, there had been speculation that NZR could soften their stance on eligibility.

Mo’unga will return to Canterbury to play in the NPC while Toshiba teammate Shannon Frizell, who is in a race to be fit for their quarter-final against Kubota Spears on 24 after reaggravating his hand injury on his return in March, will be subject to the same rules and will play for Tasman in the same competition.

Lancaster confirmed that while Rennie has expressed his desire for Mo’unga to be available for selection this summer, he has not formally requested an exemption from the board.

“Dave’s very clear, he would like Richie to be available for selection because his job is to ultimately win the World Cup next year and he wants the best talent available to the All Blacks.”

Mo’unga could be drafted in for the latter stages of the South Africa tour if the All Blacks are struck by injuries.

“Once Richie’s back in New Zealand and playing and if we do have injuries, then potentially he could be eligible,” Lancaster stated. Stay tuned to RugbyJP.com for full coverage of the JRLO Play-Offs