Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall has revealed he's been in talks with Chiefs coach Warren Gatland about loaning some of England's biggest rugby stars to the Super Rugby Aotearoa franchise next season.
Salary cap breaches have seen London-based Saracens relegated to the second-tier Championship and with the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa on the cards, McCall feels it could be beneficial for some players to test themselves in New Zealand.
England captain Owen Farrell, along with Jamie George, Mako Vunipola, Maro Itoje and Elliot Daly are among the players contracted to Saracens who played during the Lions' tour of New Zealand in 2017.
Gatland won't be coaching the Chiefs next season, so he can focus on preparations for the Lions tour, but would be a big influence if players were to join the Hamilton-based franchise.
"I don't think it is out of the question," says McCall.
"I don't think, if that was to happen, it would be for very long. It would be to get enough rugby to make sure they are firing come the Lions tour.
"I talked to Warren on Monday and he was very happy with the situation.
"The opportunity has arisen for these players to have a little bit of a different year and we will look to use it as wisely as we can."
If the deal was to happen, the players would likely make the move over after the 2021 Six Nations before returning to the UK to take part in a warm-up game prior to the trip to South Africa.
Next year's Lions tour is currently scheduled to go ahead as planned, despite the global coronavirus pandemic, with the first match taking place on July 3.
The Blues had Harlequins centre Joe Marchant on loan in Auckland at the start of the year, although his game time was limited due to the pandemic.
But that deal was made as part of NZ Rugby's relationship with Harlequins rugby as part of an exchange programme between the two parties.
The Chiefs have been beaten in all seven of their Super Rugby Aotearoa matches this year and sit bottom of the standings.
They play their final match against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday night.
Join us at 7pm Saturday for live updates of the Hurricanes v Chiefs Super Rugby Aotearoa clash
