The Western Force is delighted to announce the signing of 2011 World Cup-winning All Black Richard Kahui to our Super Rugby AU squad.
Kahui, who plays predominantly as an outside-centre, joins the club following a seven-year stay with Japanese Top League outfit Toshiba Brave Lupus.
Having burst onto the New Zealand rugby scene after claiming the Duane Monkley Medal and being named the Air New Zealand Cup Player of the Year in 2006 with Waikato, Kahui later made his Super Rugby debut for the Highlanders that year.
Kahui then made the move to the North Island signing with the Chiefs in 2007, where he was a pivotal member of the 2012 Championship-winning side.
It was with the Chiefs where Kahui rose to prominence, with his inspired performances earning him an All Blacks cap in 2008, in which he scored the opening try in a memorable 44-12 win over England in Christchurch.
Renowned for his versatility, Kahui went on to play 17 tests for the All Blacks between 2007-2011, which included the successful 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign. Kahui played a crucial role in claiming the Webb Ellis Cup on home soil scoring four tries as a winger along the way.
In 2013 Kahui made the move to Japan, where he has made 63 appearances in the Top League, forging a reputation as one of the competition’s star players, while also captaining the Tokyo-based side since the 2017-18 season.
Western Force Head of Rugby Matt Hodgson said the addition of Kahui adds a wealth of experience to the squad.
“With 68 Super Rugby caps and a number of domestic and international honours to his name, Kahui is another quality signing for us,” Hodgson said.
“His knowledge of the game, defensive ability and the level of professionalism he brings to training will be huge for our season, we can’t wait to see him out there in the blue and black.
“It’s not just his on-field exploits that we’re excited about, as his insight and winning mentality are sure to prove invaluable for the entire team.”
Kahui has joined the squad in the Hunter Valley hub and has been actively involved in training having completed his two-week quarantine period.
Sexiest All Black of the last decade joins the Force.
. I assumed I would be reading about Wyatt Crockett.
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ScarfaceClaw
- Posts: 2806
- Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 7:11 pm
I remember the photo his wife/girlfriend from that “other place”. She’s absolutely stunning from memory.
I re-watched the 2009 Soup Final where the Bulls went full prison-style on the Chiefs at Loftus this morning. Sexy Rich was the only Chief who looked decentstemoc wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 4:27 am his problem was that he played 13 in a timeline where conrad smith was GOD...moved to 14 to accommodate him but still was not good enough to start at 13 ahead of conrad who rarely missed tackles or got injured..
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HouseofPane
- Posts: 27
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Hope he goes well! I remember his debut season when he played for the highlanders - i thought it was a shame at the time that we couldn’t keep him!
He wasn't yours to keep. He was from the Republic of Tokoroa (like St Keven).HouseofPane wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 10:36 pm Hope he goes well! I remember his debut season when he played for the highlanders - i thought it was a shame at the time that we couldn’t keep him!
We had just lent him to the struggling Otago province for a little while - charity is our middle name.
I drink and I forget things.
Didn’t Quade Cooper spend his formative years in Tokoroa too?Enzedder wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 10:46 pmHe wasn't yours to keep. He was from the Republic of Tokoroa (like St Keven).HouseofPane wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 10:36 pm Hope he goes well! I remember his debut season when he played for the highlanders - i thought it was a shame at the time that we couldn’t keep him!
We had just lent him to the struggling Otago province for a little while - charity is our middle name.
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HouseofPane
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2020 11:01 am
That’s okay, his pretty looks would have never survived in the rugged south anyway.Enzedder wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 10:46 pmHe wasn't yours to keep. He was from the Republic of Tokoroa (like St Keven).HouseofPane wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 10:36 pm Hope he goes well! I remember his debut season when he played for the highlanders - i thought it was a shame at the time that we couldn’t keep him!
We had just lent him to the struggling Otago province for a little while - charity is our middle name.
Jb1981 wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2020 12:02 amDidn’t Quade Cooper spend his formative years in Tokoroa too?Enzedder wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 10:46 pmHe wasn't yours to keep. He was from the Republic of Tokoroa (like St Keven).HouseofPane wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 10:36 pm Hope he goes well! I remember his debut season when he played for the highlanders - i thought it was a shame at the time that we couldn’t keep him!
We had just lent him to the struggling Otago province for a little while - charity is our middle name.
Yep - nimble of foot and light of finger.
I drink and I forget things.
