Crusaders captain David Havili is set to leave New Zealand rugby after activating a contract clause to take an overseas opportunity in Japan. Multiple outlets report that the 30-test All Blacks player has opted out of his New Zealand agreement and will depart at the end of the year. One report links the decision to Havili being overlooked for the All Blacks squad named on Monday, while other coverage focuses on the contractual move itself without asserting additional motivations.
All sources agree that Havili is a Crusaders captain and an established All Blacks representative. They also concur that his future playing destination is Japan, rather than an additional New Zealand season. The reporting describes his departure as a decision to cut short his time in New Zealand rugby through the use of a clause in his contract. No sources provide details of the specific Japanese team or contract terms.
