Nations Championship: The rise and rise of Josh Moorby, the All Blacks’ big man on the move
Friday, 17 July 2026
It’s fair to say Josh Moorby’s wandering days are over. The man who went from Southland, to Wellington, to Northland, to Waikato and on to Montpellier in France in search of his spot in the rugby universe has finally found his happy place.
It’s very much with the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and now with the All Blacks in the test arena. He blazed through the former in spectacular fashion this year to establish himself as one of the premier finishers in the New Zealand game, and appears to be on a similar trajectory with the latter as he takes to international footy like the proverbial duck to the H2O.
Moorby will make his first test start on Saturday night when he runs out on the All Blacks’ left wing for their Nations Championship clash against Ireland at Eden Park. That comes just a week after a storybook debut, on his 28th birthday no less, off the bench in the 47-17 victory over Italy in the capital.
It’s brutally competitive in the All Blacks’ back three, but the late-blooming Moorby, the biggest mover in the New Zealand game this year, has quickly worked his way into a starter’s spot for the defining test of the year thus far. Another strong outing, and he’ll be in prime position for a similar role in South Africa when the New Zealanders will face the greatest test in the modern game.
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The Waikato born-and-bred speedster got the early call at the Cake Tin when starting wing Leroy Carter injured his shoulder a half-hour in, and made the most of it. He ran for 86 metres on 11 carries in 49 minutes, beat three defenders, made four line-breaks, and put Cam Roigard and Will Jordan in for scores.
Speaking of Jordan, who notched a hat-trick of five-pointers against Italy to become the greatest All Blacks try-scorer of all time, new coach Dave Rennie sees plenty of Jordan’s game in the way Moorby goes about his business.
“He was so impressive,” noted Rennie this week after picking Moorby to start ahead of Caleb Clarke. “He’s been excellent all year, and for him to come on quite early and play with that sort of confidence was awesome. It gives us a lot of confidence to throw him out there. He’s just a really good footballer, with a massive engine, and a massive workrate.”
Post-game in Wellington Rennie had compared Moorby’s anticipation and ability to get into the right positions to Jordan’s. Moorby, who’s as down-to-earth a character as you get, was naturally flattered, if a little overwhelmed, by such lofty comparisons.
“It’s pretty incredible to be compared to one of our greatest finishers in the All Blacks,” he reflected. “Every day it’s about being the best I can be here, whether that’s learning or trying to input something at training or when I get my chance on the field.”
Moorby’s journey has been an interesting one. He first lined up with the Hurricanes in 2022 and played NPC for Southland (2019-21), Northland (‘22-23) and Waikato (‘24), before deciding to join up with Montpellier for a two-year deal starting in ‘24-25.
As his game continued to develop in the tough Top 14 competition in France, something told Moorby he still had shots to fire at home. So he secured an early release from Montpellier, returned to the Canes this year and became a key figure, mostly on the right wing, in an explosive backline that lit up the competition en route to a memorable title triumph. He finished with a competition-best 17 tries – a mark matched by fellow big mover Fehi Fineanganofo over on the left wing.
“I think it’s just enjoying the environments I’ve been in, and taking the great parts out of each one,” said Moorby of his peripatetic journey, “I’ve met some incredible people through each of those teams and they’ve helped me a lot. I appreciate all the teams I’ve played for, and loved that’s got me to where I am.”
And France?
“It was a good chance to develop and learn a new style of rugby, They play a different brand than we’re used to in the southern hemisphere, and I was able to adapt and become what I like to think is a more rounded player.”
There’s no doubt that Moorby is a complete back-three type, capable of playing fullback and wing, quick on his feet, but sharp of mind too, and positionally astute. The All Blacks coach has options galore among his swifter types, but right now he’s happy to reward a rookie revelling in his step up to the big stage.
Almost like having two Will Jordans out there.