All Blacks superstar filmed tearing it up in local rugby match as video goes viral

So, what do you do when you're a star-studded rugby player returning to play for the sport's most formidable team?

You play a brutal game of local rugby of course! All Blacks full-back Damian McKenzie tore it up for his local side at the weekend, as he featured for Southland Premier side Woodlands against Star.

McKenzie left New Zealand six months ago as he chose to take a sabbatical and ply his trade for Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath in the Japan Rugby League. Many players have ventured to Japan in recent years, and have followed a similar path to McKenzie, including Beauden Barrett, Samu Kerevi and Michael Hooper.

However, now it's time for the versatile 15 to return to the fold with the All Blacks, and he has re-signed for the Chiefs and New Zealand rugby, ready for the 2023 World Cup.

READ MORE: Young Wales player sparks fury by walking into South African team huddle

He prepared for a return to the famous black jersey by having a full-on run out in the local game.

Star didn't hold back on him, putting in some pretty big shots on the rugby star. Of course, McKenzie didn't let this worry him; scoring a try, kicking five conversions and playing a full 80 minutes. That is one way of getting back into the swing of things after a short hiatus from New Zealand rugby.

Funnily enough, Damian's brother Marty actually captains the Woodlands side, and commands the game from fly-half. Marty is usually given the kicking duties but it was brother Damian who grabbed the tee for this game. That's something the crowd wouldn't have minded!

Woodlands won 55-17, in what turned out to be a pretty special moment for McKenzie. The All Black star had never actually played for Woodlands before, despite most of his family having featured for the side, a tradition that goes back generations. Damian had not played with brother Marty since they were on the books with the Chiefs.

A video compilation has been posted to TikTok this week, and it has gone viral, raking in half a million views in just two days. The video shows McKenzie scoring his try, and knocking over conversions with a background setting of packed stands filled with grinning spectators.

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