Both Owen Franks and Brodie Retallick, who have 106 and 75 tests for the All Blacks respectively are said to be in talks in lucrative deals in England.
Retallick has reportedly been offered a £1m per season
deal to join the Sale Sharks after the World Cup later this year. This deal
would make him one of the highest paid players on the planet.
The deal between the Sharks and Retallic are said to
be in an advanced stage and, if concluded, he would join Charles Piutau, a
former All Black teammate, as the biggest earners in the game.
Franks, in turn, has received offers from Northampton
and Toulon, with Northampton expected to announce Franks on a two-year deal,
with the option of a third. Franks would line up with brother Ben, who signed
with the Saints in 2018 and has played 47 tests for the All Blacks. He would
also join former Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd and former All Black Matt Proctor.
With the anticipated moves, Franks and Retallick will
join a growing contingent of All Blacks currently plying their trade in
England’s top division and also rejected offers to play in the Top 14 after the
World Cup.
Apart from Retallick and Franks, it is also reported that Waisake Naholo is in the process of an overseas move after the World Cup, with English clubs London Irish and Wasp being the front-runners to conclude a deal with the All Black winger.
