Rieko Ioane set to sign big deal
A blockbuster deal that will see exciting Blues star Rieko Ioane become one of the highest-paid All Blacks and recommit to the New Zealand game well beyond the 2019 World Cup is said to be imminent.
The just-turned 21-year-old Ioane has become the priority resigning for New Zealand Rugby’s contracting department after his breakthrough 2017 season with both the Blues and All Blacks.
He scored 10 tries in 11 tests as a left wing for the All Blacks last year and was a finalist alongside team-mate, and eventual winner, Beauden Barrett for World Player of the Year.
He was also outstanding, both at centre and on the wing, for the Blues during a sustained period of excellence in 2017, and has started the new campaign just as promisingly.
Ioane is the brightest young prospect in the New Zealand game and his signature is considered an important one as New Zealand Rugby continue to fight off the deep-pocketed clubs of the north and hold on to the top-tier of Kiwi talent.
Sources indicate talks between Ioane, as well as his older brother Akira, and New Zealand Rugby are well advanced and that a new deal is expected to be signed before too long.
That would likely take Rieko into the top bracket of All Black earners with the youngster set for a massive pay rise.
As the premier strike weapon in the All Blacks backline, Rieko is the priority re-signing, though the 22-year-old Akira should also find himself on a seriously upgraded deal as he continues his emergence as a top-quality No8.
Akira is rated a leading contender to step in and cover for rehabbing skipper Kieran Read at No8 for the All Blacks in June, and is a potential long-term successor beyond next year’s World Cup.
The All Blacks coaches are still looking for him to pick up his workrate and energy levels off the ball, but they are happy with the progress being made in 2018 as he has opened the new season with five tries in four matches for the struggling Blues.
Talented Hurricanes loose forward Ardie Savea is the other key All Black who needs a new deal to get him through or past next year’s World Cup.
The Wellington powerhouse has not been able to unseat Sam Cane as first-choice No7 but is an important part of the backup brigade in the national squad – more so now with his ability to potentially cover at No8.
Savea is likely to recommit to the Kiwi game, though the term of his new deal will be most interesting. NZR will be seeking to lock him in for as long as possible.