All Blacks teammates Sam Cane and TJ Perenara will be reunited in December when the Black Rams Tokyo hosts Suntory Sungoliath at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday 28 December.
Suntory’s loose forward Cane, 32, and Black Rams’ new scrum-half Perenara, 32, will collide in round two of the new 2024-25 League One season.
Cane and Perenara both signed off for the All Blacks on New Zealand soil in Saturday's convincing 33–13 Rugby Championship win over Australia in Wellington.
Former All Blacks captain Cane won his 100th cap for his country - becoming New Zealand's 13th centurion - while Perenara led the haka in his homeland for the final time.
The long-time teammates appeared together at the post-match press conference.
“It was a pretty indescribable buzz running out first,” said Cane.
“I’m hugely appreciative to everyone who's helped along the way. I feel privileged to have put this jersey on 100 times.”
Former NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Osaka half-back Perenara said: “Tonight was cool, being able to play my last Test match in New Zealand at home, it was really special.
“And for my mate (Cane) to bring up 100 caps was pretty cool so it’s been a good week. I’ve played a lot of games here (Wellington), I’ve committed a lot of time to the game of rugby.
“To be able to run off the field and feel the respect and appreciation from my home and my people was really special.”
Cane is looking forward to coming up against his friend in Japan.
“TJ and I have known each other and played with and against each other since we were 16 years old, so to be here together at 32-year-old's is pretty remarkable and now we’re going to go and play against each other for another three years (in Japan).”
Both players indicated that they’d like to be part of the All Blacks’ five-match end-of-year tour in November but it’s out of their hands.
Cane added: “I’ll put my hand up to go on the end-of-year tour but I’ll leave that up to them (coaches), I could understand if they didn’t want to go down that path but I’ve really enjoyed the environment and my role within the team.”
Perenara echoed Cane’s sentiments.
“Representing our country and the All Blacks is what we dreamed of as kids so if I have another opportunity to do that, then give me that every day of the week.”
Cane’s Suntory, who won the third-place play-off against Jesse Kriel’s Yokohama Canon Eagles last season, open their 2024-25 season against inaugural League One champions Saitama Wild Knights at the 48,000-capacity Ajinomoto Stadium on 21 December.
Perenara’s Black Rams, who defeated division two side NEC Green Rockets in the two-leg relegation-promotion play-off to retain their top-flight status in May, face Pablo Matera and Franco Mostert’s Mie Honda Heat on the opening weekend.
Pictures courtesy of Suntory Sungoliath and Black Rams Tokyo
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