Brodie Retallick is not coming back to the All Blacks. The 35-year-old lock, who has 109 Test caps, says new coach Dave Rennie “threw it out there a few times about coming back”, but “my time’s done”, and under New Zealand Rugby’s current rules a return is “not even a possibility”. He is still playing in Japan for the Kobelco Kobe Steelers, where his contract runs for one more season after this one.
Retallick gave that update this week on the Sportscafe Legends podcast, as Planet Rugby reported on 22 October 2026, and his name has been trending in New Zealand ever since. Asked whether he misses playing for New Zealand, he answered: “Not anymore.” He added that he left “on my own terms” and was “pretty happy about” that.
Is Brodie Retallick coming back to the All Blacks?
No, not as things stand. All Blacks selection is tied to playing in New Zealand, and Retallick has made it clear he isn’t going to come home just to chase a jersey. “Until they change the rules, it’s not even a possibility,” he said on the podcast. He has also chosen not to target the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The question has been around since March. That month Dave Rennie took over as All Blacks coach while finishing his season in charge of Kobe, where Retallick plays, and Stuff reported he had “opened the door” to a return. By May, Rennie had ruled out an immediate recall. In June, Rennie, Retallick and Ardie Savea won the Japan Rugby League One title together with Kobe in Tokyo.
Has Brodie Retallick retired?
From Test rugby, effectively yes. His last game for the All Blacks was the 2023 Rugby World Cup final in France. From rugby, no. He says he will keep playing beyond the next World Cup and suggested the 2027/28 season could be his last. He floated a stint in Italy or the United States before heading back home to “the Bay”. On coaching, he said: “I don’t know if coaching is for me.”
What is Brodie Retallick doing now?
He is in his sixth season with the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan, over two spells. The first came in 2020 and 2021, on a sabbatical New Zealand Rugby approved. When he signed that deal in 2019 he told RNZ: “I’ve decided to give my body a break from the New Zealand game, so that ultimately I can extend my career here.” He came back for the Chiefs and the 2023 World Cup, then returned to Kobe after the tournament.
Looking back, he named one regret: “in the moment I wish I had appreciated it more”, talking about the calibre of players and people he played with.
Brodie Retallick’s career in numbers
| Born | 31 May 1991, Rangiora |
| Age | 35 (as of October 2026) |
| School | Christchurch Boys’ High School |
| Position | Lock (second row) |
| Height and weight | Listed at 2.04 m and 120 kg |
| All Blacks debut | 9 June 2012 v Ireland |
| Test caps | 109 (2012–2023) |
| Rugby World Cups | Winner 2015, bronze 2019, runner-up 2023 |
| Big award | World Rugby Player of the Year 2014 |
| Teams | Hawke’s Bay, Chiefs, Kobelco Kobe Steelers |
He was named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2014, when he was just 23. A year later he was part of the side that won the 2015 World Cup in England.
Brodie Retallick’s wife and kids
Retallick is married to Niki Retallick (née Thompson), a nurse. They married in 2015 and have two daughters. In October 2018 Stuff reported the birth of their daughter Frankie May, a year after the couple lost their baby son, a loss Retallick has spoken about publicly. The family has kept the rest of its life largely private, and the girls’ other details aren’t public.
Where is Brodie Retallick from?
He was born in Rangiora in North Canterbury and went to Christchurch Boys’ High School, but his provincial rugby was all for Hawke’s Bay, from 2010. In Super Rugby he played for the Chiefs from 2012 to 2019 and again from 2022 to 2023. He sits alongside fellow sport stars such as Jonah Lomu and Liam Lawson in our list of famous New Zealanders.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Brodie Retallick?
He is 35, born on 31 May 1991.
How tall is Brodie Retallick?
He is listed at 2.04 metres, about 6 ft 8 in, and 120 kg.
How many caps does Brodie Retallick have?
109 Tests for the All Blacks, from his debut against Ireland in 2012 to the 2023 World Cup final.
What club does Brodie Retallick play for now?
The Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan Rugby League One. He won the 2026 title with them.
Is Brodie Retallick still playing rugby?
Yes. He is playing in Japan and has said he plans to keep going past the 2027 World Cup, just not at Test level.
