Former All Black Shannon Frizell is set to return to New Zealand rugby later this year, reigniting his ambitions of representing the New Zealand national rugby union team at the next Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Frizell, who has been playing his club rugby in Japan, is expected to rejoin the domestic system in a move widely seen as a calculated step toward national selection.
Under current eligibility rules, players must be contracted and playing in New Zealand to be considered for the All Blacks.
The Tongan-born hard-running loose forward was a key figure for New Zealand before his overseas stint, known for his physicality and ability to break defensive lines.
His return is likely to intensify competition in the loose forward trio, an area already rich with depth.
Frizell’s decision signals a clear intent to force his way back into the All Blacks setup ahead of the World Cup, where experience and power in the forward pack are expected to be decisive.
Selectors will now closely monitor his form upon return, as he looks to prove he can regain peak performance and secure a place in one of rugby’s most competitive international squads.
His comeback adds another layer of intrigue to New Zealand’s World Cup build-up, with several overseas-based players weighing similar returns in pursuit of selection.
