New Zealand will remain home for relocated Irishman Oli Jager until at least 2022.
So what now for the Crusaders tighthead prop, who has a desire to represent the All Blacks rather than his native Ireland?
Jager, who arrived in Christchurch almost seven years ago as a back rower, has convinced the Crusaders to renew his contract for another couple of years and Canterbury have also re-signed him through to 2021.
Things didn’t go so well for Jager last season. Although the Crusaders won their 10th Super Rugby title, he only managed six appearances as a substitute because Mike Alaalatoa and ex-All Black Owen Franks were the preferred options at tighthead.
But 24 year old Jager, who inked his first contract with the Crusaders in 2017, knows there is merit in being patient.
Re-signing with the Super Rugby powerhouse club also means he has retained a deal with NZ Rugby, that’s how the central contract system works, and if the All Blacks selectors ever take an interest he won’t wave his Irish passport and tell them to get lost.
When asked about representing the All Blacks, Jager is cautious; the priority is to nail down a starting spot at the Crusaders ahead of Mike Alaalatoa, an Aussie who has also relocated to Christchurch.
“In the long run, I have thought about it (the All Blacks),’’ Jager says. “It is definitely something I would like to see and would love to do.’’
During the World Cup in Japan last year Nepo Laulala and Angus Ta’avao were the starting tightheads, with Franks a shock omission.
Jager crossed paths with his future mentor Jason Ryan, now the Crusaders scrum coach, when he joined Crusaders international high performance unit in 2013.
Ryan remembered Jager as a wiry loose forward who expressed a desire to return to the front row, where he had played during his 1st XV days in Ireland.
Ryan issued some home truths. Jager needed to change his physical shape, and understand things could go badly wrong if he wasn’t equipped to handle the loads in the scrums.
“Basically he had to completely rebuild his whole body, which he has done,’’ Ryan said. “So he has chipped away at the club scene; he has come a different route to most professional tightheads I can tell you that, which makes it that little bit more special for him.’’
