Hurricanes loose forward Devan Flanders confirms move to Japan, farewells All Blacks dream

Monday, 4 May 2026

Devan Flanders and Bailyn Sullivan celebrate a Hurricanes try at Hnry Stadium.

The lure of the Japanese yen has captured another high-profile Hurricane, as Devan Flanders confirmed one of rugby’s loudest rumours on Monday and waved goodbye to his All Blacks dream.

Flanders will farewell the Hurricanes at the end of this Super Rugby Pacific season to move to Japan, the club announced in a statement. His destination or length of the deal was not mentioned, but The Post understands Flanders had a three-year offer on the table.

The 26-year-old Hastings Boys’ High School product has been one of the Hurricanes’ best this year at No 6 and started their first nine games before playing the final half-hour of Friday’s 38-31 win over the Crusaders which left them top of the ladder.

Talk of Flanders’ likely departure first began circulating in mid-March, and tellingly he was the only one of their five frontline loose forwards - Du’Plessis Kirifi, Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose and Brad Shields the others - to have not yet re-signed for 2027.

Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw said in March: “It’s quite difficult to keep these players in the country. The money overseas, if you’re a non-All Black is big… probably four times, sometimes more, than what Super Rugby players can get. I’m not surprised a lot of players are being targeted, including Devan, if he is.”

Super Rugby players who aren’t All Blacks earn a maximum of $195,000 under the collective agreement with NZ Rugby, plus NPC deals of up to $55,000.

Flanders toured with the All Blacks XV last year and his form this season as a powerful ball carrier and stout defender had him firmly in the frame for an All Blacks debut, albeit with plenty of strong contenders for loose forward spots.

Shannon Frizell’s return to New Zealand was confirmed last month, with the 33-test All Blacks No 6 having completed three years with Toshiba in Japan. He will play NPC for Tasman and be available for All Blacks selection before rejoining the Highlanders in 2027.

Flanders has played 66 matches for the Hurricanes over seven seasons, as well as 77 for Hawke’s Bay in the NPC.

“Wellington has become my second home, and I’ve truly appreciated the support from the community,” Flanders said in a statement.

Devan Flanders takes on the Blues’ defence.

“I’ve loved every minute of my time with the Canes, and the club is definitely in good hands moving forward.”

Laidlaw described Flanders as “an amazing man” in the same statement.

“We’re going to miss him for sure, but we wish him and Mariah all the best with his future career.

“We look forward to continuing to connect and welcoming him home and back into the club whenever he wants to be back, because he’s a true Hurricane.”

Flanders now has the opportunity to farewell the club with their second title, as they look to continue their winning roll against Moana Pasifika in Auckland on Saturday.

Other Hurricanes to confirm end-of-season moves include winger Fehi Fineanganofo (Newcastle Red Bulls, UK), Riley Higgins (Edinburgh) and Isaia Walker-Leawere (Benetton Treviso, Italy).

Across New Zealand rugby there are high-profile departures at season’s end. Among them are Blues trio Dalton Papali’i, Hoskins Sotutu and AJ Lam; Crusaders All Blacks Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor and Dallas McLeod, and Chiefs speedster Etene Nanai-Seturo.