Toulouse beckons

WELLINGTON: All Black blindside flanker Jerome Kaino will pitch up at French outfit Toulouse at the end of the 2018 Super Rugby season.

Kaino (34) announced this week he will farewell the Kiwi game at the end of his Super duties with the Blues.

He has earned 81 test caps. Kaino was a central figure in twin Rugby World Cup triumphs in 2011 and 2015 and marked his time in the No 6 jersey, with physicality in both attack and defence.

Toulouse confirmed its acquisition of Kaino yesterday.

‘‘Kaino is someone who will bring his experience, his high standards, his willingness to work, to grow his teammates and help the club’s play evolve,’’ Toulouse club president Didier Lacroix told French media yesterday.

‘‘There are players like that [but] I don’t think there are 10 on the planet. ‘‘He is one of them.’’

Kaino made his professional debut in 2004, and his 81 test caps as a Kiwi flanker are surpassed only by Richie McCaw’s 148.

That pair, combined with No 8 Kieran Read, formed one of the great modern loose forward trios.

He also spent two seasons in Japan with Toyota Verblitz.

Kaino played 280 firstclass games and curiously played his first and last games for the All Blacks against the UK Barbarians at Twickenham.

Kaino scored a longrange try on debut in 2004 — aged 21 — but left the field injured during the last match last November.

He will join fellow Blues and All Blacks stalwart Charlie Faumuina at Toulouse.

All Blacks coach praised Kaino for his contribution.

‘‘He brought a physicality and skill level to his game which made him the best in the world in his position,’’ Hansen said. — NZN