Crusaders stalwart Luke Romano didn't have to think too long or hard when presented with the opportunity to join the New Zealand player exodus offshore.
While a chunk of his teammates will play their final game for the decorated franchise in Saturday's Super Rugby final against the Jaguares - including Ryan Crotty (Japan) and Jordan Taufua (England) - Romano is staunchly committed to ending his career as a Crusader.
Off-contract at the end of the 2019 season, the former All Black lock has been presented with at least a couple of lucrative deals at European clubs over the past year, but has made it clear he has no interest in chasing a dollar abroad.
"It just boils down to my passion," Romano told Newshub. "I grew up here in Christchurch, the Crusaders were the team that I looked up to,
"I always wanted to play for the Crusaders and obviously I always wanted to be an All Black.
"When you have a passion like that, that's what drives you to reach those goals. I don't have any drive to go play for another team on the other side of the world.
"It just doesn’t float my boat, I guess.
"You’ve still got to put in the same hard work and the same hours, whether you're playing for a team on the other side of the world and enjoy doing it for a team I'm not truly passionate about - and I probably wouldn't."
The 33-test international has yet to commit to a new deal with the defending champions, but confirmed he has one on the table that he's hoping to finalise shortly.
Romano says he has plenty of gas left in the tank and believes his veteran presence could be crucial next year, considering the amount of outgoing talent.
"I still feel like I've got a couple of good years left in me, playing at this level here in NZ," Romano said. "With the experience the Crusaders are losing… it's quite crucial to have someone with a bit of experience in the group.
"Hopefully, it all works out and you'll see me in the red-and-black again next year."
When that tank eventually runs dry and his rugby days end, Romano has ensured he'll be able to transition seamlessly to another of his passions in life, establishing a new outdoor adventure tourism business - Monarch Pursuits.
"I've grown up hunting here in Canterbury and I just love being out in the hills. I thought once rugby's finished, I want to do something that I love and it seemed like the ideal thing to go into.
"It was originally geared towards hunting, but it's been diversified to include heli-skiing, fly-fishing and mountain biking, or if you just want to have a holiday and see the real New Zealand."
But of more pressing concern are the Jaguares, who'll look to spoil the Crusaders' three-peat party at OrangeTheory Stadium and etch themselves into Argentinian rugby-lore as the nation's first Super Rugby champions.
Limited by injury this season, Romano will likely make his impact from the bench against a formidable Jaguares forward pack he believes has been the foundation of their success.
"I think both their playoff wins have been built around their lineout. They upset the Chiefs and the Brumbies lineouts, and that Brumbies lineout is probably one of the best in the competition, which shows just how good they are there.
"If you can upset another team's set-piece ball, it really does stifle their play, so no doubt they'll be looking to do that and it's up to us to stop it."
But with starting lock Scott Barrett in doubt with a finger injury, Romano may yet be asked to join the run-on side.
Newshub.
Join us for live updates of Crusaaders v Jaguares in the Super Rugby final from 7:30pm Saturday
