Money 'no part' of Senio decision

All Black ambitions were the overriding factor in Kevin Senio's decision to switch from Bay of Plenty to Canterbury.

The experienced halfback has signed a two-year deal to move to the defending NPC champions - and, wearing their Crusader hats, the Super 12 champions - from next year. Senio dipped his toes into All Black waters in this season's Tri-Nations, getting a taste at the end of the win over Australia at Eden Park.

He hopes playing in the highly successful Canterbury operation will boost his game. "It's pretty exciting. It's going to be a challenge for sure, but I'm prepared to do the best I can," Senio said last night.

Senio's manager Bruce Sharrock said: "The factor of money had zero consideration, and that's a reflection of the individual. Bay of Plenty were very competitive [financially] but money is not the motivator for Kevin.

"It was an agonising decision. He had many restless nights tearing himself away from a province which gave him an opportunity.

"But he saw it as a chance for him to take his game potentially to another level, and that environment could be just the trigger."

Senio's wife, Silver Fern Anna, is committed to playing for the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in next year's National Bank Cup. She will commute from Christchurch.

Senio's addition to the Canterbury roster effectively thwarts Rico Gear's hopes of moving from Nelson Bays, who will join with Marlborough next year to form the Tasman team for the inaugural premier NPC competition.

Gear left North Harbour for Nelson Bays last year but had a clause inserted in his two-year contract, stating he could move to Canterbury after this season.

The New Zealand Rugby Union prevents provinces from signing more than one All Black each season, and Senio's imminent arrival means Canterbury have filled their quota.

* Marty Holah has re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union for two years.

- additional reporting NZPA