Just days after Aidan Ross became the fifth player to play for the Wallabies and All Blacks, the fourth person to join that exclusive club, Alex Hodgman, has hung up the boots.
The 32-year-old played four Tests for the All Blacks in 2020, before signing with the Reds ahead of the 2024 season and going onto represent the Wallabies once under Joe Schmidt against Georgia.
“For me, setting up my family has always been the most important thing. I wanted to taste something different in Queensland and we definitely did that with a good experience,” Hodgman said in a statement.
“Ultimately, NZ is my home. I had a lot of fun playing footy. You know when it’s time to finish up.”
Alex Hodgman became the fourth player to play for the Wallabies and All Blacks after debuting against Georgia in Sydney on July 20, 2024. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Hodgman played 80 Super Rugby matches, including 15 for the Reds.
His experience and quality led to Schmidt handing him his first Test cap for the Wallabies in July, 2024.
Making his return to the international game all the more special was that it came after the injury-plagued prop considered retirement.
“Plenty of tears, eh. I’m not an old-school guy. I’m [a] new [age] man,” said Hodgman, after being asked to reflect on his crazy past 12 months.
“To be honest, there were a lot of moments last year, especially being injured with the Blues, I actually considered retirement. My wife pretty much got me through it all. She’s my rock and everything. I wouldn’t be sitting in front of you today without her.”
On becoming the fourth player to play for the All Blacks and Wallabies, Hodgman said it was “amazing”.
“Obviously, it’s quite a small group,” Hodgman reflected.
“I’m just blessed with great players around me and a great coaching staff.”
Alex Hodgman and Richie Mo’unga of the All Blacks celebrate beating the Wallabies at Eden Park on October 18, 2020 in Auckland. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
Curiously though, Hodgman wasn’t sighted under Schmidt again despite being fit and available.
His slide into the international wilderness came as fellow prop Tom Robertson returned after a stint in England studying at Oxford.
Hodgman showed his quality for the Reds in 2025, but after being one of the side’s stronger players during the middle part of the season picked up another injury in late April and didn’t feature again.
While Hodgman’s international switch was a case of being one and done, Ross is likely to become a mainstay in the Wallabies after recently switching from the Chiefs to the Reds.
The Australian-born prop, who played 100 Super Rugby matches for the Chiefs, became eligible for the Wallabies in July after spending three years out of the international game.
And the retirement of James Slipper, as well as Robertson’s shift to tight-head prop to cover for the absent Allan Alaalatoa and Taniela Tupou, saw Schmidt select Ross off the bench against Japan last Saturday.
“It was awesome,” said Ross of his return to international rugby. “To do it in Tokyo is a pretty special place in itself.”
Aidan Ross at Wallabies training in London. Photo: Julius Dimataga, Rugby Australia
Asked what it meant to join such an exclusive club, Ross said he hadn’t had time to reflect on his place in history, but said he was “proud” of his achievement.
“I haven’t put too much time into, I guess, answering that question as such, but, look, I was so proud to represent the All Blacks and I’m just as equally as proud to represent the Wallabies,” the rugged prop said.
“Life’s a journey and your rugby career’s a journey and it goes different ways.
“It was an awesome part of my journey in New Zealand, and now that chapter’s closed, and I’ve moved the family over to Australia and they’re loving it. I love that they love it. We’re on to the next part of our journey now.”
And what about the reaction from those across the ditch?
“I still have plenty of good mates over there,” he said. “I’ve made with some awesome mates here. You just keep the ones that are close to you in your corner and that’s all that matters.”
Ross is expected to feature against England on Sunday (2:10am) after Robertson was forced off late in the Wallabies’ 19-15 win over Japan.
But the Wallabies’ front-row is expected to be bolstered by the returns of Allan Alaalatoa and Taniela Tupou, who were both wrapped in cotton wool after battling minor niggles in recent weeks.
Christy Doranhttps://https://ift.tt/OqhGP9H just became the fifth player to play for the Wallabies and All Blacks. The fourth just retired at 32
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