CHARLES Piutau’s £1 million a year deal with Bristol confirms the accelerating trend of All Blacks leaving New Zealand in mid-career for lucrative Northern Hemisphere club contracts.
Piutau, 25, who had 16 All Black caps when he joined Wasps two seasons ago before honouring a commitment to Ulster, will join his former Auckland Blues and New Zealand teammate Steven Luatua, 26. The back rower has joined Bristol for this season’s promotion push from the Championship on an annual salary of £650,000.
With other established All Blacks like fly-half Aaron Cruden, 28, on his...