Jack Goodhue

Jack Goodhue won a title in every season he spent with the Crusaders: Super Rugby in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023, and Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2020 and 2021. Seven from seven. Very few players have that record and even fewer have it interrupted as often by injury.

Centre at Castres, 1.88m and 100kg, and the twin brother of the Blues lock Josh Goodhue.

The two of them started at Kawakawa in Northland club rugby. Jack moved to Canterbury in 2014 to study agriculture at Lincoln University, played five NPC matches that year and two the next before a serious knee injury. The Crusaders put him in their wider squad for 2016 and he missed the entire season injured. He came back for that year’s NPC, played nine, scored three and won it.

His Super Rugby debut came in the opening match of 2017 against the Brumbies, and he settled outside Ryan Crotty almost immediately. He played against the British and Irish Lions on that year’s tour. When Crotty left for Japan he moved in to 12.

New Zealand capped him on 23 June 2018 in Dunedin, the third Test against France. He played four matches at the 2019 World Cup. After 2020 the injuries stopped him being selected at all, and he was not considered for the 2023 tournament.

A junior world championship came in 2015 alongside Josh, and played two World Series sevens rounds that February.

Castres announced him in June 2023 on two years plus an option, and he arrived that November after the NPC. His first season was compromised by an ankle injury and by adapting to French rugby. A good start to the second earned an extension to 2027.

A technically precise midfielder rather than a physical one. What Castres are paying for is decision-making in the Top 14‘s tightest channel.