KEY POINTS:
All Blacks lock Chris Jack, 28, has signed to play for English club side Saracens following this year's rugby World Cup.
The 2.02m, 115kg Jack told a media conference in Christchurch that it had been a difficult decision to quit New Zealand rugby but he had decided to put his wife and family first.
Jack has been with the Crusaders since 1999 playing 87 matches for the defending super rugby champions.
He also played 40 times for Canterbury before joining the Tasman Makos maiden Air New Zealand Cup team last year for three matches.
Crusaders' coach Robbie Deans said Jack's departure would be a huge loss for the Crusaders and New Zealand rugby but no-one would begrudge him and wife Kym an opportunity to see the world.
Tasman Makos chairman Max Spence said that although Jack was only with them for a short time his contribution to the forward pack was invaluable.
Tasman director of rugby, Todd Blackadder said he'd never doubted Jack's ability. Blackadder was Crusaders captain when Jack made his debut into Super rugby in 1999.
During his time with the Crusaders Jack shared in five Super rugby titles and two other finals. He also won Air New Zealand NPC titles with Canterbury in 2001 and 2004 and was part of the region's Ranfurly Shield winning teams in 2000 against Waikato and 2004 against Bay of Plenty.
He made the All Blacks in 2001, was player of the year in 2002 and is the fourth most capped lock forward in All Blacks' history with 57 caps.
Jack damaged his hamstring against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney last month but is expected to return to the Crusaders lineup before the end of the Super 14 season.
Jack's departure follows hard on the heels of the news that All Blacks prop Carl Hayman will play for English club Newcastle.
Halfback Byron Kelleher earlier announced he would join French side Agen for two years after the Cup.
Aaron Mauger and Sam Tuitupou will also play overseas after the Cup, while All Blacks hooker Anton Oliver is also poised to move offshore after this year.
- NZPA
