Aaron Cruden Could Be Heading To France - Reports

New Zealand's largely successful player retention strategy is facing a tense few months as it tries to keep Aaron Cruden and Owen Franks who are both understood to be fielding significant offshore interest.

Tonight reports emerged Cruden was being wooed by a French club with a $1.2m salary.

Player retention has been a battle New Zealand Rugby has mostly won in the last decade but there's a handful of key men coming off contract next year and not all of them have indicated they will be easily persuaded to stay.

Of greatest concern for the national body is Cruden. The 27-year-old began the June series as the All Blacks' first choice first-five but he suffered a neck injury in the second test and in his absence Beauden Barrett took hold of the No 10 jersey and has established himself as arguably the best playmaker in world rugby.

A French rugby magazine has claimed Cruden could be poised for a big-money move.
A possible salary of $1.2 million per season to play for Montpellier in France has been mentioned by Midi-Olympique for the Chiefs pivot.

Read the full report at NZ Herald