ABs Todd rejects offshore offers

An educated guess suggests the coin offered to Matt Todd would have made some nine-to-five workers leak tears of gratitude, prior to demanding a contract on the hour.

While those folks locked into a 40-hour week job might say they would cheerfully sign a lucrative deal with an offshore rugby club, All Blacks and Crusaders openside flanker Matt Todd remains cool to the idea of mixing an overseas experience with a sackful of loot.

Todd, who played the first of his eight tests in 2013, has recommitted to NZ Rugby and the Crusaders for another year, ensuring he will remain to the end of the 2018 season.

‘‘I guess in some regards when you see figures, it can certainly be appealing,’’ Todd, 28, said.

‘‘There are some good numbers or what-not. But at the end of the day, that is only one factor you … have to take into account. It is not the be-all and end-all, I guess.’’

This isn’t the first time the married father of two has spurned the advances of offshore clubs, with family remaining his top priority.

‘‘My oldest daughter has just started school. They are all factors you weigh up.’’

But it isn’t as though Todd is guaranteed starts for the All Blacks, surely a complicating factor in the decision to stay.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has preferred Sam Cane as his No 7 since Richie McCaw retired after the 2015 World Cup, electing to employ Ardie Savea and Todd listed as deputies.

Last year Todd proved a few points, there is no doubting that. When Cane was injured, Todd was considered a more accomplished starter than Savea, whose explosive ball-carrying game was more suited to employing him as a substitute who could speed-up the game.

In the absence of Cane it was Todd who started against the Springboks in Durban, the Wallabies in Auckland and France in Paris.

The dialogue between Hansen and Todd doesn’t appear to have been too intense, prior to confirming he would stay: ‘‘No, not really, I didn’t chat to him too much,’’ Todd said.

‘‘I talked to Razor (Crusaders coach Scott Robertson) and a few other people.’’

Opting to extend his NZ Rugby contract for just one year means Todd should have more clarity about where he sits in the order of All Blacks No 7s ahead of the 2019 World Cup in Japan, potentially allowing him to pick-up a juicy deal overseas before clubs start scrambling for Kiwi players’ signatures in the months leading up to the global tournament.

‘‘I guess when it (his contract renewal) comes back up, I will go through the same process again,’’ Todd said.

‘‘Definitely, there were a couple of tough decisions. You know, when you get an offer it is tempting and every situation is different.’’

Todd does plan to leave New Zealand later in his career. Whether that is before or after the World Cup is likely to be reflected in how 2018 plays out.

Robertson, understandably, was enthusiastic about Todd’s contract renewal.

‘‘He’s a champion isn’t he? He’s a hot commodity, especially with overseas (clubs),’’ Robertson said. ‘‘We are absolutely stoked.’’