TJ Perenara, the scrum-half for the All Blacks, has been candid about his protracted absence from the game and his concerns about never being able to play rugby again.
In Scott Robertson’s first All Blacks squad, Perenara, who hasn’t played for the team since November 2022, is the second-most experienced backline player.
consecutive The half-backs career was in jeopardy due to Achilles injuries because they would prevent him from playing in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season and from going to his country’s second World Cup.
Now that he was healthy and back, he was a key player in the Hurricanes’ run to the Super Rugby semifinals, breaking the all-time leading try record in the process. He was especially important after Cam Roigard was hurt.
He has been called back to the All Blacks squad ahead of the two-test series against England because he has taken advantage of his opportunities.
“A lot of work has gone into it, but I don’t think I’ve looked back and truly appreciated the journey I’ve taken to get here, and I won’t for a while because I have another job to do. That’s the beauty of life and sport, after all.
“Now that I’m here, the door opens, and the chapter of trying to be a great All Black starts again, so that chapter on recovering and trying to get back to the All Blacks is closed.”
During a difficult period in his recuperation, Perenara acknowledged that he feared he would never play rugby again when asked if he thought he would ever make it back into the Test team.
He continued, “There was a moment when I didn’t think I’d play another game.”
“I spent a lot of time in rehab, got hurt again, had another surgery, and felt like nothing was getting better.
“I had a thought that I might never play rugby again when I was rehabbing for the first time because it felt like I was reaching a wall and could not get better. I would do anything to play this game because I adore it, but something isn’t working.
And in the course of the following week or so, my strength and mobility really increased. I am incredibly appreciative of Nicole, our Hurricanes physiotherapist, who dedicated a great deal of time and energy to me and remained dependable even on my worst days.
That particular instance occurred, and I’m thankful for it because it reminds me of how appreciative I am to be able to play rugby on the field—a sport I cherish.
