Chiefs and All Blacks half back Tawera Kerr-Barlow has signed for Top 14 club La Rochelle on a three-year-deal starting at the end of 2017.
Announced by La Rochelle on their official website, Kerr-Barlow will join former All Blacks Victor Vito and Jason Eaton who's captain at the club.
Currently the All Blacks third-choice halfback, Kerr-Barlow said the opportunity of experiencing playing in a new country was something he couldn't refuse.
"Over the past couple of months I’ve thought long and hard about going overseas," Kerr-Barlow said.
"I had really good contact with the Chiefs and the All Blacks throughout the process, but ultimately the opportunity to play rugby with La Rochelle and experience the French culture with my family was the right decision for me."
La Rochelle have been flying in the Top 14 this season, sitting in front of the likes of giants Montpellier, Clermont and Toulon at the top of the table. The side recently humbled Dan Carter's Racing 92 38-15 on the weekend.
Kerr-Barlow has made 67 appearances for the Chiefs and has earned 25 caps for the All Blacks.
The 26-year-old will remain with the Chiefs until the end of the Super Rugby season but it's not yet confirmed whether he'll play in Waikato's Mitre 10 Cup campaign.
He follows the Chiefs' Aaron Cruden and James Lowe out the door with both players heading to France and Ireland respectively.
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