All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock seems ready to join teammate Nehe Milner-Skudder and South African star Eben Etzebeth at French club Toulon after next year's Rugby World Cup.
Both players have been linked to the Top 14 outfit in recent months - Whitelock was apparently first approached in February 2017, before re-signing with NZ Rugby through to 2020. There's also a suggestion he may be allowed to take a sabbatical to keep him on board a little longer.
The Crusaders second-rower has been an absolute colossus for the All Blacks this year, captaining the team against France, while Kieran Read recovered from off-season back surgery.
He also shouldered a massive load during the Rugby Championship, when locking mate Brodie Retallick suffered a shoulder injury and missed the final three games, including the loss to South Africa.
Milner-Skudder burst onto the international stage in 2015, when he helped the All Blacks defend their Rugby World Cup title and was named Breakthrough Player of the Year.
Recurrent injury and the emergence of Rieko Ioane have seen him slide down the pecking order for New Zealand - he has been left out of the squad travelling to Europe after Saturday's test against Japan in Tokyo.
Toulon has been something of a home away from home for formers All Blacks in recent years. Loose forward Liam Messam, centre Milakai Fekitoa and wing Julian Savea are part of their current roster, while Ma'a Nonu, Chris Masoe, Jerry Collins, Andrew Mehrtens, Ali Williams and Anton Oliver are others, who have played there.
With the rumour mill working overtime, All Blacks fullback Ben Smith is also reportedly headed to France, hooking up with Pau after the World Cup.
Newshub.
