All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick seems poised to sign a £1m (NZ$1.9m) deal to play for Sale Sharks in the English Premiership Rugby competition after this year's World Cup.
Reports suggest the club is close to securing the towering second-rower, after its efforts to contract England international Joe Launchbury stalled.
- Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick named 2019 Chiefs co-captains
- Brodie Retallick wins Try of the Year at World Rugby awards
- Ben Smith confirms departure after 2019 Rugby World Cup
Retallick, 27, was named Chiefs co-captain for the upcoming Super Rugby season, but if those reports are correct, he will join the exodus overseas after the All Blacks defend their world crown in Japan during September/October.
He is widely regarded as the best lock in world rugby and was named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2014. His end-to-end effort for New Zealand against Australia last year was also voted International Rugby Players Try of the Year.
Other All Blacks already linked to foreign clubs include Ben Smith, Kieran Read, Sam Whitelock, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett and Nehe Milner-Skudder.
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