Richie Mo'unga scores winning try on NPC comeback, All Blacks door remains open

Richie Mo'unga, the 32‑year‑old former Crusaders fly‑half, returned to New Zealand rugby after three seasons with Japan’s Toshiba Brave Lupus. He made his first National Provincial Championship appearance for Canterbury since 2020, coming off the bench against Auckland. Despite an early high‑ball drop and a missed conversion, Mo'unga scored the decisive try in the final minutes, securing a 38‑31 victory for Canterbury.

The try was celebrated by a crowd of about 16,000 at Christchurch’s new One NZ Stadium, and Mo'unga said he was proud to be back playing in front of family and friends. His performance re‑establishes his eligibility for All Blacks selection under New Zealand Rugby’s rules.

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie said a recall is possible if an injury occurs at fly‑half, noting Mo'unga is a viable option. He now joins a competitive pool of No. 10 candidates that includes Ruben Love, Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie as New Zealand prepares for a tough pool with Australia at the 2027 Rugby World Cup.