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Beauden Barrett re-signs with New Zealand until after 2019 World Cup

ALL BLACKS STAR Beauden Barrett has re-signed with New Zealand Rugby until the end of the 2019 season.

Barrett, 25, put pen to paper on a deal with New Zealand, as well as Super Rugby champions Hurricanes and province Taranaki.

The five-eighth said he was enjoying his time with the national team, while he has also set his sights on further Super Rugby success.

“I love playing for the All Blacks and representing my country in the black jersey and I’m loving my footy at the moment,” Barrett said.

“The All Blacks are an incredibly special team to be part of and I’m looking forward to playing my role and adding my small part to the legacy over the next few years.

“As well, with the Hurricanes we’ve built a great culture at the club and it’s an exciting time to be involved with a great bunch of guys and a quality coaching staff. Next year I’m looking forward to doing everything I can to help build on our success this year.

“I’m also a proud Taranaki man, proud of my roots and stoked to be recommitting to my home province.”

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew described the re-signing of 41-time international Barrett as a “huge deal”.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, meanwhile, was similarly delighted and believes Barrett is becoming one of the world’s best.

“It’s great news for the team and great news for Beauden. He’s fast becoming one of ‘the’ players in the world,” he said.

“He’s been a world-class player coming off the bench for some time, he’s now graduated into starting Test matches for us, and this year he’s been nothing short of spectacular.

“He’ll continue to grow – he’s not the finished product yet, by any stretch of the imagination – but as he does, I think we’ll see something pretty special, so it’s nice to have him signed up and secure.”

Barrett made his international debut in 2012 after impressing with Hurricanes, and helped the All Blacks to their Rugby World Cup success last year.

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