Jordie Barrett has reaffirmed his commitment to the Hurricanes, signing with NZ Rugby and the Hurricanes until 2028. He will head to Ireland for a playing sabbatical in 2025, before returning to the Hurricanes for the 2026 season.
With an option in his contract to play a season overseas, the 27-year-old Hurricanes Centurion has decided to return to a place that has strong connections to the Barrett family. Starting in November, he will spend six months at Leinster, near where he spent time as a child.
In 2000, Barrett and his family moved to County Meath when his father Kevin, a former Hurricanes and Taranaki lock, took up an offer to play professional rugby in Athlone while also managing a farm.
“I’m certainly grateful to New Zealand Rugby and the Hurricanes for sending me off with their best wishes which is awesome. I’m really focussed and enjoying my time with the Hurricanes at present and looking forward to having the opportunity to return to the Hurricanes, a franchise that means a lot to me.”
“The support of people throughout the Hurricanes region, continues to drive the team forward as we hope to continue our strong start to the season.”
“Leinster provides an opportunity for me to experience another type of rugby and to reconnect with some of my childhood. I hope to be able to bring some of my experiences back to the Hurricanes, when I return.”
“For me I think it’s very positive. It’s going to be a great place for me to develop as a rugby player in a different environment where I’ll learn so many different things. To have a freshen up going into another, hopefully successful, World Cup cycle and some great years ahead with the All Blacks, Hurricanes and Taranaki.
“The reality of being a professional athlete is that you’ve only got a small window to have these opportunities and I’d love to be sitting there in twenty or thirty years with my kids or grandkids, knowing that I left no stone unturned, and I took up this opportunity to better myself.”
Hurricanes Head Coach Clark Laidlaw, echoed Jordie’s sentiments - “It’s an exciting opportunity for Jordie to head over and spend some time in a world class environment, with a team which plays in the top tier of European rugby. This experience will grow him as a player, leader and person which will no doubt bring some great knowledge and experience back to the Hurricanes in 2026.”
Hurricanes CEO Avan Lee said “It’s fantastic that Jordie has committed to the Hurricanes through until 2028. His family have an amazing history with the club and we’re excited that the legacy will continue. It’s great that he has decided to take up his sabbatical with an excellent club like Leinster, but before that happens, we have lots to achieve in Super Rugby this year.”
Jordie will head to Ireland following the 2024 Northern Tour, before returning to the Hurricanes for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.