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Ethan de Groot is mobbed by a group of his mates after his All Blacks debut against Fiji in Dunedin. Southland coach Dale MacLeod said de Groot contacted him on Sunday advising him that he would not be part of the Rugby Championship squad and would be linking back up with the Stags. MacLeod said de Groot wanted to join the Stags camp as soon as the next day, Monday, but the Southland coach advised him it would be in his best interests to take a small break. “He loves playing for the Stags.” de Groot has had a big year, which started with the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition with the Highlanders. It then flowed into the Super Rugby trans-Tasman competition before he was part of the All Blacks for three.