French club targets All Blacks duo
All Blacks Ben Smith and Ardie Savea could join French club Pau after next year’s World Cup, according to a European rugby news outlet.
The Rugbyrama website says Smith and Savea are being chased by Top 14 club Pau, who are coached by former All Blacks first five-eighth Simon Mannix.
Although fullback/wing Smith is contracted to NZ Rugby until 2020, an early termination clause in his contract allows him to be a free agent after the 2019 global tournament in Japan.
At 32 years of age and with 71 test caps in his dossier the versatile Smith, the oldest wing to represent the All Blacks, is likely to be considering his options with great care.
Although co-captain of the Highlanders, and a key member of the All Blacks’ leadership group, the lure of earning big money in Europe may be too good to resist in the twilight years of his professional career.
Earlier this year flanker Savea, who has made 29 test appearances, elected to extend his contract by just one year, meaning he will be in a strong position to either renegotiate a new deal with NZ Rugby after the World Cup or follow older brother Julian to an overseas club.
Despite being only 24 years of age, Savea may be getting itchy feet; the fact he didn’t want to extend his deal with NZ Rugby beyond 2019 suggests he is open to the prospect of heading overseas.
Complicating things for Savea is the fact that incumbent test No 7 Sam Cane, who has locked down that job since Richie McCaw retired after the 2015 World Cup, is contracted to NZ Rugby through to 2020.
Julian, 28, played 54 tests for the All Blacks between 2012 and 2017 before electing to join French club Toulon.
It is expected a number of All Blacks will elect to go overseas after the World Cup cycle; the challenge for NZ Rugby is to retain those players who are still in their prime.
After the All Blacks defended the Webb Ellis Cup at the 2015 World Cup, Dan Carter, Ma’a Nonu, Ben Franks, Conrad Smith and Colin Slade joined clubs in France and England.