This is a biggie.
Not content with having Andrew Trimble, Craig Gilroy and Tommy Bowe in their ranks of top-class wingers, Ulster Rugby have landed an All Black.
On Tuesday, New Zealand Herald was among several Kiwi outlets to announce that New Zealand international Charles Piutau would sign for Ulster in July 2016. The 23-year-old is set to earn €700,000 ($1m NZDollars) a year. Ulster confirmed the news after the unofficial ‘all jokes off’ April Fool’s noon deadline:
It’s true. pic.twitter.com/Qrb7fTWEex
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) April 1, 2015
The Auckland Blues man comments, ‘It was a difficult decision to leave the Blues and New Zealand rugby as I have really enjoyed my time with them so far. However, when I spoke with Ulster I was impressed with what they had to say and I am excited about their future plans.
‘I am looking forward to moving to Belfast, experiencing a new culture and playing in the northern hemisphere. I can’t wait to get stuck in with my new teammates in July 2016.’
Dan Carter, Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith are all off to Europe next season but are on the wrong side of 30. Piutau is only 23 and has already been capped 14 times for is country, with four tries.
He can play wing, fullback and also cover centre, as he has done several times for Blues this season.
The news comes as a blow to the NZRU’s plans to prepare a team that can replicate the 3-0 whitewash it delivered to the British & Irish Lions in 2005. The Lions tour the country in 2017.
Piutau, the Herald reports, is keen to return home in time to stake a claim for the 2019 World Cup. It may be his intention to return to New Zealand at the end of 2016/17, in time for the Lions tour, but one suspects the All Blacks will have unearthed a plethora of young backline talents by then.
The NZRU, however, will now move quickly to try and tie down its core group of younger squad members, such as Brodie Retallick, Julian Savea, Colin Slade and Sam Cane.
Check out Charles in action here:
