Harlequins up efforts to lure Spencer

Harlequins have signalled they will increase their efforts to lure Carlos Spencer to England.

The Quins have only noted an interest to date, quoting their willingness to pay £200,000 ($530,000) a year for the Blues star.

But Spencer is contracted to the New Zealand Rugby Union until the end of 2006 and is also aware his standing in Europe is such that he could earn considerably more than Harlequins' initial offering.

That message has been relayed to London and it's understood the club are ready to come back with a formal, much improved offer. Harlequins, who tried to sign Spencer in 1997, are in desperate need of a game-breaking genius in their back division. It also seems certain the Zurich Premiership salary cap will be increased next season, paving the way for a sweetened package.

If Spencer is tempted to England before the end of his current contract he would need to negotiate an early release with the NZRU. That is not necessarily guaranteed although it is unlikely the NZRU would keep Spencer here against his will, particularly as they have shown a willingness to grant early releases for other long-serving players.

The real question, though, is whether Spencer will be tempted. He receives a couple of genuine offers every year from UK and French clubs.

They are never immediately dismissed. In 2000 he travelled to Leicester after they made a seriously attractive offer. It wasn't just about the money. The Tigers were the best club in England at the time, well supported, well financed and operating with a clear vision of the future. They were Heineken Cup champions that season and were one of the few English clubs to play with flair and ambition.

Spencer, who was 25 at the time, opted to stay in New Zealand to try and resurrect his All Black career and return the Blues to champion status.

He earned his All Black recall after helping Auckland to the 2002 NPC title and a year later won the Super 12 with the Blues and started every test in the No 10 jersey. But by the end of last year, things had turned sour.

He broke his jaw during the Blues' desperately disappointing title defence and was then vilified for failing to successfully implement the All Black flat backline. He was dropped for the final Tri-Nations match before returning to a struggling Auckland side which failed to make the playoffs. Towards the end of the NPC he was struggling with a degenerative knee condition.

By the end of last year Spencer was fed up with the constant abuse and disillusioned with New Zealand's attitude towards him.

He's now 29 and in his 10th Super 12 campaign. He's rated only an outside bet to make the All Blacks this year despite using the off season to get himself into the right head space and prime physical condition.

Any move overseas would be about the fresh playing challenge. The club has to be right, the style of play compatible. Money would be a factor, too.

What really appeals to Spencer is the opportunity to play in a country where his talents are fully appreciated. The English clubs have valued Spencer at £100,000 ($263,000) more than every other All Black due to his ability to break defences and open the game up. The French, too, are big admirers of Spencer.

All things considered, Harlequins probably don't stack up as the right option. It's probably only a matter of time, though, before the right club makes the right offer and leaves New Zealanders regretting not showing more appreciation for a once in a decade talent.


- HERALD ON SUNDAY