All Blacks prop joins exodus after Cup
All Blacks prop Owen Franks has joined the post-World Cup exodus with confirmation the Crusaders veteran will join English club Northampton at the end of the season.
Franks has been a mainstay of the All Blacks pack since 2009, playing an integral role in the national side’s back-to-back World Cup triumphs and will attempt to win a third in Japan later this year.
But after 106 tests for the All Blacks, 142 appearances for the Crusaders and 18 games for Canterbury, the 31-year-old has opted to seek a new challenge at the Saints, where he will join older brother Ben Franks.
‘‘New Zealand will always be home, but Northampton presents a great opportunity for me to test myself in a new rugby environment, and reconnect with family there,’’ Franks said.
‘‘While I know I’ll look back at the end of my time in New Zealand with an immense amount of pride, I still have a lot I want to achieve this year.’’
Franks’ announcement comes in the same week that Stuff revealed loose forward Liam Squire has decided to walk away from the All Blacks following the World Cup to play his rugby in Japan.
Outside backs Ben Smith and Nehe Milner-Skudder are both leaving for France at the end of the year, while uncapped Crusaders loosie Jordan Taufua has signed with English club Leicester.
With several experienced All Blacks off-contract at the end of the season, there are bound to more that will head off shore.
All Blacks captain and No 8 Kieran Read has already declared he will probably retire from tests after the World Cup, and has been linked with a move to Japan along with fellow veteran Ryan Crotty.