All Blacks: Overseas clubs set to mine black gold

Keven Mealamu. Photo / Getty Images

As the victories roll in and the rugby proves ever more sensational, many All Blacks are set to be bombarded by some of the best overseas offers of the professional age.

With more than half the current starting XV coming off contract next year, the European and Japanese markets are viewing the next eight months as rugby's equivalent of the world's biggest lolly scramble.

Six All Blacks have just re-signed with the NZRU and will play here after the World Cup (Conrad Smith, Jerome Kaino, Anthony Boric, Tom Donnelly, Sam Whitelock and Ben Franks).

But Keven Mealamu, Brad Thorn, Richie McCaw, Piri Weepu, Dan Carter, Ma'a Nonu and Mils Muliaina are all, potentially at least, going to be open to offers that take them offshore after the World Cup.

That process essentially begins now. The European season kicks off in a couple of weeks and such is the way of professional sport, the planning for the 2011-12 season will shortly begin.

The big clubs have been watching and they will have ring-fenced ample budgets to go hunting for All Blacks. This is a one-off opportunity to sign some of the biggest names in the game; to bring on board players who will make a significant impact, deliver a commercial uplift.

The $1.5 million that Toulon found to pay Carl Hayman per season will be common. There might yet be offers that are even higher.

The rugby world has seen a thrilling brand of rugby from the All Blacks. They have seen men who can do all the basics and so much more - players with enormous aerobic capacities; players who can pass and catch and run into space.

The All Blacks are at the forefront of rugby's revolution. They are driving the game to a better place where interest is being rebuilt; where TV networks and sponsors can feel more enthused and confident about their financial stake.

The big clubs already know about Carter and McCaw - the two men they would sell the family silver for. McCaw has already hinted that he would be keen to stay in New Zealand, that his love of being an All Black is burning still stronger.

That won't deter the market. They will come for him, raise the money to the sort of level that will make it hard for even one of the most entrenched and committed All Blacks in history to say no.

The man, after all, is a freak, playing better than he ever has despite the game having required a total remodelling of his skill-set.

Then there is his leadership. Even at 31, as he'll be by 2011, most clubs would see him providing two years of invaluable guidance. The big French clubs - Clermont, Toulon, Toulouse, Perpignan, Racing, Stade Francais and Biarritz - will be hovering. As will Leicester, Saracens, Bath, Northampton, London Irish as well as Munster, Leinster, Cardiff and the Ospreys.

The same clubs will chase Carter. The unflappable tactical general of the All Blacks hasn't, other than the first test against Wales, shown his scintillating running ability this season. But his reading of the game is at a new level.

The golden duo will be the top of every list but the last few months have shown there is plenty of gold to be mined.

The global market might not have appreciated how much value was left in Mealamu or even that an overseas stint is something of interest. The astute shopper will be willing to take a gamble on Thorn, who doesn't want the journey to end in 2011. Carrying on in New Zealand, as an All Black, he doesn't see as realistic. Playing overseas is.

"When I look at the Heineken Cup it looks like a great competition, something that would be great to be part of," he said. Having struggled with his emotions in 2004 when he was unwanted by the All Blacks, he admits to being the type of personality who needs goals to chase.

"I was lucky I had an extra challenge [heading back to the NRL with the Broncos]. It stimulated me again, maybe that's the key - having a challenge when all this finishes."

Muliaina was close to leaving in 2008, the lure of the World Cup kept him here. His form will have suitors queuing again. He knows that by 2011 he'll be under serious pressure from the likes of Israel Dagg and Isaia Toeava.

Ma'a Nonu's line-breaking and direct running could be invaluable in the course of a long northern hemisphere season. Weepu had plenty of interested parties, mainly French clubs, keen to swoop earlier this year. He made the All Blacks and all bets were off.

Most players will give their post-2011 careers more thought after the Tri Nations. Those seriously interested in moving on may then meet some prospective new employers when they are on the All Black end of season tour to the UK.

Then, in March and April, it will be decision time.