Force re-signs All Blacks duo

The Western Force has announced former All Blacks Richard Kahui and Jeremy Thrush have signed new contracts with the club.

With a combined 29 All Blacks caps to their names, Kahui and Thrush bring invaluable experience and skills to the side.

A 2011 World Cup champion and two-time Rugby Championship winner, Kahui is a top-class player with 17 test caps who has enjoyed an illustrious career at international and club level, having also been a vital part of the Chiefs’ Super Rugby-winning side in 2012.

The Tokoroa-born centre made his Super Rugby debut in 2006 with the Highlanders before moving to the Chiefs where he went on to make 60 appearances and score 75 points from 2007-13.

Kahui then made the move to Japan, where he became a star player for Top League side Toshiba Brave Lupus. Named captain in 2017, he scored more than 100 points in over 60 appearances for the Fuchu-based outfit. He originally signed a season-long deal with the Force in July for the 2020 Super Rugby AU campaign before extending with a new one-year contract.

Thrush, who has represented New Zealand in 12 tests including at the 2015 World Cup, joined the Force in 2019 from English Premiership side Gloucester. This was the lock’s first season back in Super Rugby after playing over 100 times for the Hurricanes between 2008-15.

Having made his debut for the All Blacks in 2013 against France in his hometown of Auckland, Thrush has forged a reputation as a fierce competitor and a born leader on and off the field having captained the club on two occasions during the 2020 Super Rugby AU season.