STEVEN LUATUA

The powerfully built Luatua had to weigh up his longer term All Blacks prospects at the start of this year when Bristol came calling. They put a big o er in front of him and as he surveyed the scene, he reckoned he was only a long shot to make the All Blacks on a regular basis.

So he decided he would head to England once Super Rugby finished.

In the interim, his form was sensational, a host of key All Blacks loose forwards su ered injuries and Bristol were relegated.

Too late, he doesn’t have a get out clause because of the relegation and he will be heading to England.