NZ Rugby denies buying out Fineanganofo's Newcastle contract

NZ Rugby denies buying out Fineanganofo contractImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Fineanganofo was part of the New Zealand Sevens team that finished fifth at the Paris 2024 OlympicsByMike HensonBBC Sport rugby union news reporterPublished13 minutes agoNew Zealand Rugby has denied any involvement in a reported U-turn by Fehi Fineanganofo over a move to England to join Newcastle Red Bulls for next season.The prolific wing, who has equalled the single-season Super Rugby record by scoring 16 tries for the Hurricanes this term, was announced as one of Newcastle's incoming signings in January.Fineanganofo's form since has put him firmly on the radar of New Zealand coach Dave Rennie, but a move aboard would make the 23-year-old ineligible for the All Blacks.A report in New Zealand last week, external claimed that the country's rugby authorities had found a solution to keep Fineanganofo down under, leaving Newcastle officials "very, very upset".In 2015, New Zealand Rugby reached an agreement with Clermont Auvergne to tear up a contract that would have taken wing Waisake Naholo to France and out of Test contention.However, the union insists there will not be a repeat in Fineanganofo's case. It says its stance is unchanged since an interview given by chief executive Steve Lancaster a fortnight ago."We don't really do that. These are player choices," Lancaster said, external of the possibility of buying Fineanganofo out his Red Bulls contract."There's nothing stopping Fehi from doing that, but it's not a space we get into, looking to buy players out of contracts."Things have changed a lot for him since the end of last year. He's taken every opportunity he's been given so good on him."If he has a change of heart, that's absolutely up to him."The ball is in his court around that. But even if he does honour his contract to Newcastle, he's still young. He might well be back."...