Damian McKenzie: All Black explains why he chose to stay with NZR all the way until 2029

Damian McKenzie has turned down overseas offers to remain in New Zealand through until 2029.

The All Blacks and Chiefs playmaker says there were offers to return to Japan on a full-time basis.

But McKenzie says he still wanted to stick around and experience all the All Blacks had to offer.

"There's no place like home either - in fact, the next two years are going to be a big couple of years for myself and both teams, so the option to stay in New Zealand was an easy one in the end."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Bryan Bridge.

Speaker 2 (00:01):
Nicola Willis on the show after six. Lots to talk
about with her the supermarket duopoly. Is she going to
smash it to smithereens as she's been threatening. We'll get
to that after six, right now, All Black. Damien mackenzie
staying in the country for another four years. He signed
with nz R and the Chiefs until twenty twenty nine.
The contract includes an option for Damien to take a
sabbatical in twenty twenty eight. If you choose it's Damien

(00:22):
McKenzie is with me now, good after good evening to.

Speaker 1 (00:24):
You, good ev mate, thanks of me.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
All yeah, no worries. Why have you decided to stay?

Speaker 1 (00:33):
I think, you know, it's a great opportunity the next
couple of years with the Chiefs in New Zealand Rugby
with the All Blacks to you know, to stick around.
And I think both clubs have given so much today,
the Chiefs and the All Blacks and the opportunities I'm
think of and so yeah, I mean there's no place
like home either, So I think the next tw year
is going to be a big couple of years for

(00:54):
myself in both teams. So for the option to stay
in New Zealand was quite an easy one in.

Speaker 2 (00:59):
The Did you get lots of other authors? Was there
a lot of money on the table?

Speaker 1 (01:06):
Did get a couple offers? And yeah, least enough money.
I guess.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
It is it fair to say you took you took
less money to stay in New Zealand. And if that
is true, why I think?

Speaker 1 (01:25):
I guess like I said that, the opportunity to play
for the All Blacks is you know, one that you
can never take for granted. And you know, I was
out a pretty decent hand last year and got a
lot of opportunities to to prove myself that liveryone. I think,
you know, I learned a lot from that. And yeah,
I think it's just been able to be in New

(01:47):
Zealand being at home. It's you know, I enjoyed being
in Hamilton and playing for the Chiefs, and you know
that sort of when you go overseas, you're kind of
kind of like st that And I guess experienced little
bit of a stint in Japan a few years back,
which I extremely enjoyed, and I thought the opportunity that
there is in the next couple of years here in

(02:08):
Zealand was too good to turn down and I know
it's going to obviously take a lot of hard work,
and you know, I'm really.

Speaker 2 (02:16):
Well, I know there'd be a lot of all Blacks
fans who are very very anchiefs fans are very happy
that you're staying with us. Where did you or do
you have any plans or what's the deal with the
twenty eight sabbatical.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
Just like any other spetical really not an option to
potentially play the season then and then rejoined back in
his younger later in the year.

Speaker 2 (02:38):
Nice, So you get a bit of at home and
a bit of offshore and included in this in this contract.

Speaker 1 (02:43):
Yeah, very very fortunate with how the contracts come all together.
And you know, obviously here at the Chiefs, which has
been home away from home for a long time now
and obviously huge motivation to try to bring a championship
to the club. Other than the yeah, the adoption to
potentially play overseas as well, which I've experienced before, I

(03:04):
really enjoyed, and so to have that in my contract,
I'm very grateful for.

Speaker 2 (03:10):
All Right, Damien, thank you very much for being with me.
I really appreciate your time. And then congratulations on the
new deal. Cheers Dami Doame McKenzie, all Black and Chief
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