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Jordie Barrett stays at Canes for 2022 after Blues end chase for All Black's signature

June 17, 2021
The youngest Barrett was the Hurricanes' form player before lockdown.

The Hurricanes have retained the talents of Jordie Barrett after the Blues confirmed they weren’t chasing the All Black’s signature for next season.

The Hurricanes confirmed in a statement this afternoon Barrett will be a Hurricane in 2022, saying the 24-year-old will add to his 74 Hurricanes matches next season.

Head Coach Jason Holland said he was delighted to retain the services of one of his most important players.

“Jordie is an incredibly influential part of the Hurricanes. Off the field he has developed to be one of our key leaders and on the field his skill set is plain for all to see,” he said.

“Most importantly he is a quality young man with great standards and values which rubs off on all of us in our environment.”

It comes after Blues CEO Andrew Hore told NZME the franchise aren’t looking to recruit Barrett with both his brother Beauden and NRL star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on the team’s roster next season.

Barrett’s contract with New Zealand Rugby runs until the end of next year however his deal with the Hurricanes expired this season.

After Beauden joined the Blues last year, speculation rose the youngest Barrett brother would head north and join him.

Rumours of the shift were previously backed by the Blues’ previous attempts to snag the outside back but the arrival of Tuivasa-Sheck, who could play the same positions of fullback, wing or midfield, from the NRL appears to have changed the Auckland franchise’s thinking.

“We have tried and tested with Jordie before and (things) are coming good for us,’’ Hore told NZME.

“We have got Tuivasa-Sheck, got Beaudie here, next year. It is a matter of a couple of these other boys standing up, now.’’

Barrett's recruitment is an important piece in the Hurricanes’ equation for next season as they look to rebound from a rough 2021 with the additions of TJ Perenara as well as former All Blacks Owen Franks and Dominic Bird.

Barrett has been at the Hurricanes since making his Super Rugby debut in 2017 after a string of strong performances for Canterbury.

Despite an offer from Crusaders coach Scott Robertson to stay in Christchurch, Barrett moved to the capital to play alongside Beauden and has developed into one of the club’s key players with his attacking game and famously-big boot.

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