Newcastle agree to delay Fehi Fineanganofo move so he can pursue All Blacks World Cup place
Newcastle Red Bulls have agreed to postpone winger Fehi Fineanganofo's move to Tyneside so he can continue his bid to be selected for the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup, the club announced on 28 September 2026. The 24-year-old will remain in New Zealand for an extra season rather than join Newcastle at the start of the current campaign.
Fineanganofo had been reported to have signed a two-year contract with Newcastle in January that was due to begin this season. He scored 17 tries in 14 Super Rugby matches for the title-winning Hurricanes last season and made his New Zealand debut against France in July. Under All Blacks selection rules a move overseas this year would have ruled him out of contention for the Rugby World Cup, which begins in October 2027.
Newcastle have allowed Fineanganofo to stay with the Hurricanes, for whom he broke the record for the most tries in a single Super Rugby campaign this year, for an additional season. His Newcastle agreement remains for two campaigns but will now cover the 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons instead.
"I'm really grateful to Newcastle Red Bulls for the support and understanding they've shown me," said Fineanganofo. "The opportunity to stay in New Zealand and push for selection for the Rugby World Cup means a huge amount, and I'm fully committed to joining the club after the tournament and giving everything I can to the team."
Newcastle's sporting general manager Neil McIlroy said: "We are fully supportive of Fehi's desire to represent his country at Rugby World Cup 2027, which marries with our own philosophy of aiming high and enabling our athletes to achieve their ambitions. "Fehi's arrival in 2027, with additional international experience that will only add to his already devastating qualities as a top-class winger, is another statement of intent around where this club is going."
The agreement resolved a period of uncertainty over Fineanganofo's future after New Zealand Rugby in June denied attempts to negotiate him out of the Newcastle contract. Red Bulls head coach Dan McFarland had said a few weeks ago he expected Fineanganofo to arrive in November and play in the current campaign, but Newcastle began the Premiership season using former Ulster wing Werner Kok, who was signed in June, and 35-year-old Christian Wade as their first-choice wings.
"We are more than happy with the quality and depth that our existing squad possesses, but may yet choose to add to the outside back position if a player of the required standard becomes available," McIlroy said. Newcastle lost 59-26 away to defending champions Northampton on Friday in their league opener and will take on Leicester at home on Saturday.