New Zealand are reportedly considering allowing three star All Blacks to take up two-year sabbaticals in Japan to prevent the threat of an overseas exodus.
According to the Daily Mail, Beauden Barrett, Brodie Retallick and Rieko Ioane are the players who may be allowed to join Japanese teams in order to stave off any temptation to take up long-term big-money offers in Europe.
New Zealand Rugby has been facing financial challenges when it comes to matching the lucrative offers of leading French and English clubs who are targeting star All Blacks players.
The All Blacks currently have a policy where they do not pick overseas-based players.
Should the likes of Barrett, Retallick and Ioane take up stints in Japan, one would imagine that it would take place after the 2019 World Cup.
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