All Blacks flyhalf Aaron Cruden will return to New Zealand in 2020 after signing a one-year deal with the Chiefs.

The 30-year-old will move back from France to rejoin the Chiefs for next year’s Super Rugby season. Cruden has been playing for Montpellier since 2017.

Incoming Chiefs coach Warren Gatland said he was pleased to have the former Chiefs co-captain returning to Hamilton.

‘It is great to have Aaron back to rejoin the Chiefs,’ Gatland said. ‘As a player he has a proven ability to create opportunities with his boot and can spark up an attack from anywhere on the park. We are fortunate and privileged to have him return and I will look forward to coaching him in the coming season.’

Cruden started his Super Rugby career with the Hurricanes and first moved to the Chiefs in 2012 when the team was coached by Dave Rennie. He won back-to-back Super Rugby titles in his first two years with the Chiefs.

Cruden was delighted to be going back to the Chiefs before taking up his contract with the Kobelco Steelers in Japan.

‘It is a huge privilege to be a part of the Chiefs once again,’ he said. ‘It is a fantastic environment to be a part of, which made it an easy decision to choose to return for the 2020 season. I’m looking forward to getting back and stuck into pre-season training with the guys.’

The 2020 Chiefs squad will be announced on Tuesday, 12 November with the squad commencing their pre-season training at the end of November. They kick their Super Rugby season off against the Blues at Eden Park on Friday, 31 January.

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