Nehe Milner-Skudder Reunite Hurricanes in 2022

 

According to reports, former All Blacks star Nehe Milner-Skudder will rejoin the Hurricanes shortly at the start of the 2022 Pacific Super Rugby.

According to Newstalk ZB, Milner Skuder will return to the Wellington-based team as a cover for the team’s All Blacks. They will miss most of the preseason as a break after this year’s testing activities.

These players- Ardie Savea, Jordie Barrett, Dane Coles, TJ Perenara, Tyrel Lomax, and Asafo Aumua -are not expected to resume training until early February. That is why Milner Skudder will return to the Hurricanes in their absence.

The team has not issued an official statement, and there is no indication that any other players will join Milner Skudder in the Hurricanes as a screen for their early preseason games.

After four years the 30-year-old will return to the New Zealand capital in the 2018 semifinals for the Hurricanes after being defeated by the Crusaders in Christchurch.

Although Milner Skudder joined with the Hurricanes in the following season, injuries prevented the World Rugby 2015 Player of the Year from playing for the team in 2019.

The 30-year-old player played the leading role in the All Blacks' victory in the 2015 World Cup when he was supposed to join the French club Toulon, but his health problems ruined that prospect.

Instead, Milner Skudder was surprised by the Highlanders in a two-season transfer before last year's first Super Rugby Aotearoa event.

During his entire time in Dunedin, 13 perimeter tests were played only once for the Highlanders, ironically, against the Hurricanes at the Wellington Sky Stadium in April.

That game was the first time Milner Skudder participated in a professional rugby game in two and a half years. His last game before that was the All Blacks' 69-31 wins over Japan in November 2018.

Milner Skudder continued to play for Manawatu regularly as a player and coach in this year's NPC but was not re-signed by the Highlanders.