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FIFA World Cup 2026 posterFineanganofo set to remain in NZ after UK move reportedly 'blocked'
Sport Nation • May 29th, 2026 5:34 pm
Fehi Fineanganofo | Photo: Photosport
New Zealand Rugby has reportedly intervened with Hurricane Fehi Fineanganofo’s Newcastle Red Bulls negotiations in hopes of keeping the star winger on home shores.
The 23-year-old has been one of the success stories of Super Rugby 2026, emerging from relative obscurity to set the competition alight with his recordbreaking exploits for the table-topping Hurricanes.
But his success has been tinged with a sense of 'what if' given Fineanganofo's lucrative two-year deal with the Premiership Rugby side inked back in January, which will disqualify him from selection to Dave Rennie's All Blacks after the 2026 NPC season.
However, popular Kiwi podcaster Andy Rowe told Sport Nation's Millsy & Guy on Friday he understands Fineanganofo's agreement with Newcastle has been "blocked" by NZR.
"I have woken up this morning to some news, and it's good news for New Zealand Rugby fans and Hurricane fans, and terrible news for the Newcastle fans," claimed the co-host of The Good, The Bad, The Rugby alongside Jeremy Paul and Justin Marshall.
"My sources on the ground in Newcastle are telling me they're very, very upset that the deal is off."
Israel Dagg isn't ready to farewell Hurricanes breakout star Fehi Fineanganofo | Scotty & Izzy
"My understanding from the way that the news was leaked to me from Newcastle was they were very upset that New Zealand Rugby had - quote, unquote - blocked the deal.
Rowe is confident Fineanganofo well be wearing an All Blacks jersey come the start of the inaugural Nations Championship in July.
“New Zealand Rugby Union have done what we all hoped they’d do, pulled some strings, done a Waisake Naholo and said 'mate, you're pretty much guaranteed to be in the All Blacks squad, so stick around, we'll give you a black jersey and we’ll give you a long term contract'.”
And Rowe believes it would be a wise decision.
“I guarantee you by the end of the year, the whole world is going to be saying this guy's one of the best if not the best wingers in the world,” he explained.
Fineanganofo recently equalled the record for most tries in a Super Rugby season.
Cory Jane on the want to keep Fehi Fineanganofo in New Zealand | Scotty & Izzy
“Every time he gets the ball with an opportunity, he scores and he's mistake free as well. You don't see him make any clangers.
“He's a smart footballer, he gets himself in the right position at the right time. But equally, he’s got a skillset and an explosiveness from zero to 100. He can move, he can shift, and he's a complete package at the moment."
Several prominent rugby figures across the country have urged NZR to interject on Fineanganofo's move north, most notably Hurricanes assistant coach Cory Jane.
“New Zealand need to do something," Jane told Sport Nation’s Scotty & Izzy show.
"They might not even look at him to be an All Black and then fair enough, let him go, but if they’re looking at him being an All Black, they’ve got to try and do something to get him out of his deal."
Listen to the full interview below:
