Rugby: NZRU offers rest time to sweeten deal

Mils Muliaina may yet stay in New Zealand despite increased offers from Toulon and other European clubs.

The 68-test fullback has been offered what New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew believes to be an outstanding deal, complete with sabbatical clause, to stay here until the next World Cup.

The 28-year-old Chiefs captain comes off contract at the end of this year and has been clear for months that he's torn between more All Black caps and a crack at his third World Cup and the opportunity to set his family up for life financially.

Toulon have reportedly offered Muliaina 450,000 a season ($1m) and Tew says other clubs have made similar offers.

"We have made it very clear to Mils that we want him to stay," said Tew. "He is the best fullback in the world and as such he has a number of really quite major offers.

"But we are confident we are putting in front of Mils an offer that is very attractive. He has been very honest and upfront and we will respect whatever decision he makes. It would be foolish to predict what he might do."

The NZRU trump card is rest periods for Muliaina who has had the biggest workload of any of the current squad in the past five years.

Since his test debut in 2003, he has won 68 caps in six seasons. Muliaina is concerned that, if he stays in New Zealand, his body will give up the ghost.

He could be a broken heap at the age of 29 with no chance of fulfilling his other ambition of an overseas stint. "If Mils stayed fit between now and the next World Cup and played every game he could, it would be too big a workload. We are building in some provision that takes that into account," said Tew.

It's likely Muliaina's offer will be similar to Richie McCaw's, allowing for an optional extended rest period. While the most likely time would be at the start of next year so he can enjoy an extended off-season after the All Black tour to Europe, Tew says that's not necessarily how things will pan out.

There are concerns that if a number of senior players such as McCaw, Muliaina and Rodney So'oialo were to skip some or all of next year's Super 14 there would be commercial ramifications.

News Corporation, the broadcast rights owner of Super 14 was incensed in 2007 when the NZRU withdrew 22 players from the first seven rounds and local sponsors and fans were not happy either.

It is possible Ali Williams will join the senior players seeking time out in the next two years. Tew says discussions are progressing as they are with Tony Woodcock.

If Williams re-signs, Muliaina will be the only member of the five-strong All Black on-field leadership group not to have committed to stay until 2011. He is expected to decide in the next few weeks.