Rugby: Brodie Retallick returns to training following family tragedy

Name: Retalick back for Chiefs
Uploaded: 2018-01-30T21:52:32+13:00
Duration: 141 s
Description: Chiefs lock Brodie Retallick talks about his return to rugby after some time away from the game. Video / Nigel Yalden

By Christopher Reive

NZ Herald·

30 Jan, 2018 03:33 AM2 mins to read

Chiefs lock Brodie Retallick talks about his return to rugby after some time away from the game. Video / Nigel Yalden

In 2017, Brodie Retallick's family was rocked by tragedy.

The All Blacks lock was part of a group to enjoy some time off when the side travelled to face Argentina in Buenos Aires in September, then withdrew from selection for tests in South Africa, Australia and the Northern-Hemisphere tour after he and wife Niki lost their baby boy prematurely.

Retallick spent the ensuing four moths spending time with Niki and their one-year-old daughter Sienna, before returning to the training paddock with the Chiefs this week.

"We're going good. It was a nice break, well, given the circumstances but it was good to rest the body," he said after training on Tuesday.

"Now we're here, the extra few weeks have caught up on me, running around yesterday in the 30-plus degree heat was a bit tough."

Retallick last played a competitive match of rugby on September 16 - in the All Blacks' 57-0 beat down of South Africa - and was eager to get back into the swing of things.

Brodie Retallick's last game of rugby was in the All blacks' 57-0 win over South Africa last September. Photo / Photosport.

The Chiefs were set to be somewhat of a new-look team in 2018, with the likes of Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and James Lowe having departed the side at the end of their last campaign.

New head coach Colin Cooper has confirmed Damian McKenzie would start the season as the first-choice No.10, leaving the fullback jersey up for grabs, while the No.11 and No.14 jerseys were expected to be heavily contested.

The Chiefs begin their Super Rugby campaign against the defending champion Crusaders in Christchurch on February 24.

And while he and his family had been through a hard time over the past few months, Retallick said time away from the game hadn't altered his approach to playing rugby.

"It just same old for me. Rugby's a pretty simple game. I'll just focus on that, that's what I'm here to do so I'll be looking forward to getting back out there in round one."