One of the key aspects of Brodie Retallick agreeing to stay with New Zealand Rugby was a sabbatical clause and he looks likely to cash in on that with Japanese club Panasonic.
It is unclear when he will go, but the team currently coached by Robbie Deans is at the front of the queue for the lock who was last year recognised as the best player in the world. Retallick is likely to fit in his season during the break in Super Rugby, meaning he will return to the Chiefs without missing a significant number of matches but with a much healthier bank balance.
The commitment of the 23-year-old, and blockbusting wing Julian Savea, to New Zealand Rugby and the All Blacks to what are believed to be four-year contracts which will take them to the next World Cup in Japan in 2019 will be announced as soon as this week.
After watching young talents such as Charles Piutau, Colin Slade and Tom Taylor announce moves overseas recently in what has been called in some quarters an "exodus", the national body will be keen to trumpet the signing of Retallick and Savea as a triumph. The pair held off committing but were believed to be unlikely to take their talents overseas for any significant amount of time.
