Tuiali'i tops European hitlist

Munster and Toulouse have come to New Zealand to shop for explosive loose forwards and midfield backs - with All Black No 8 Mose Tuiali'i the biggest name on their list.

Munster, the newly-crowned champions of Europe, are looking for a fetching openside and a world-class centre to bolster their squad, while Toulouse are hoping to replace former All Black No 8 Isitolo Maka with another bruising ball carrier.

Both clubs believe New Zealand is currently the only market guaranteed to deliver the quality they are after to shore up the inevitable holes in their squads that will occur next year when test stars are at the World Cup.

Former All Black centre-turned-agent Craig Innes said recruitment drives were beginning in earnest, particularly with the large All Black squad bringing English clubs more into the market than they had been previously.

"The likes of Munster have just finished the Heineken Cup and are turning their attention to nabbing players for next year. They're a pretty ambitious club too.

"We've had enquiries here about certain positions," Innes said. "They're active and always looking for players."

Munster are prepared to offer upwards of €140,000 - close to $300,000 - for a highly-rated centre and it is understood they initially approached Rua Tipoki who turned them down.

With Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu and Casey Laulala all in the frame to go to next year's World Cup, none are likely to have their heads turned, opening the way for big-money contracts to be waved in front of players like Ben Atiga and Niva Ta'auso.

Munster might come up short in their hunt for a centre, though, given New Zealand's struggle to replace Tana Umaga.

Munster also see New Zealand as the perfect recruiting ground for an openside flanker to back up Irish cap David Wallace. They are on the lookout for an NPC standard player and somebody like Wellington's Ben Herring or Bay of Plenty's Nili Latu would fit the bill. They are prepared to pay up to €90,000 - NZ$180,000.

Christian Cullen is already on Munster's books but injuries have blighted his stay in Ireland's south. Munster will offer him another short-term contract with a drastically cut retainer with a much higher pay-for-play component.

Innes said it was possible Munster would use Irish internationals like Paul O'Connell and Ronan O'Gara to sell Munster to prospective players.

"If they've got someone in mind and want to get somebody over the line, they might get a player to have a chat while they're here... why not?"

The Irish side are just one of many European clubs aggressively recruiting in New Zealand in the hope of winning the Heineken Cup, which is expected to undergo a commercial revamp that will see it generate enormous revenue.

Toulouse were stung by their failure to defend their European title this year and slipped behind Biarritz as the top French club. The three-time champions want to establish a Real Madrid-like dynasty over the competition and will spend big to try and reclaim their mantle.

The French giants believe in buying the best and have already identified Tuiali'i as a potential signing as the Cantabrian No 8 may not make New Zealand's World Cup squad.

Toulouse, as the richest club in Europe, are understood to be willing to pay extraordinary money to secure the right player.

Innes acknowledged that Graham Henry's desire to add depth to the All Black squad had opened the way for English clubs as anyone who has started a test in the last 15 months can apply for a sportsman/entertainers visa.

"The likes of Toulouse, or Munster for that matter, are not restricted by visa requirements, as opposed to England. But in saying that if you're an All Black... that gets you into England and they're the sort of players they'll go after. They're allowed two on their quota so they're going to go for top-quality players."