Rugby News: All Blacks’ Mils Muliaina signs two-year contract with Japanese club NTT Docomo
All Blacks fullback and Chiefs skipper, Mils Muliaina, has signed a two-year contract with a Japanese club, NTT Docomo. Muliaina is ending his current deal with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) after the forthcoming Rugby World Cup. He will leave for Japan
after participating in the largest event of rugby this year. NZRU confirmed the news today on June 3 and said that the player has talked to the union about his new deal.
Muliaina is the second player behind his team-mate, Brad Thorn, to sign with an overseas club after the Webb Ellis Trophy tournament. New Zealand was successful in retaining the services of big-guns like Dan Carter and Richie McCaw for large amounts and
flexible deals but every player was not given the same incentives. Sonny Bill Williams has also not decided his future line of action because of the indifference of the union.
Muliaina made his international debut in 2003 and has participated in 94 games for New Zealand. He has scored 32 tries in his international career, which is one of the largest numbers in the rugby history. Earlier, he was part of the Sevens national team
from 1999-2002. He started off his Super Rugby season in 2001 for Blues and then shifted to the Chiefs in 2006 and has been leading the derby from the front in the current season.
Muliaina’s deal with NTT would end his international rugby career as NZRU only includes those players who are committed to it. Talking to media he said, “I consider myself to have been incredibly lucky with my career in New Zealand. It's hard to single
any one moment out but obviously winning Commonwealth Gold and the opportunity to captain my country were things I thought were only dreams when I was growing up.”
He further talked about his new deal and said, "Japan itself offers a completely different culture and way of life that my entire family is looking forward to experiencing."
All Blacks head coach, Graham Henry, appreciated the outgoing Muliaina and said that he is one of the best fullbacks of his age. Graham Henry also wished him the best of luck in Japan.
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