This is serious - Smith
All Black assistant coach Wayne Smith has publicly stated that something needs to be done about the player drain out of New Zealand.

10 plus 10 equals wake up call for NZRU
More reports out of New Zealand that both Nick Evans and Dan Carter will be lured to Europe next season as cashed up European clubs pursue the signatures of the All Black star number tens.

Brumbie trotting off to Japan
Brumbies lock Adam Wallace-Harrison has announced that he has signed a two-year deal with the Kobe club in Japan. He joins fellow ex-pats Royce Willis and Josh Blackie from New Zealand at the club.

Collins hints at Europe move
All Blacks flanker Jerry Collins is strongly considering joining the rugby talent drain to Europe.

ARU contracts under review again
ARU Chief John O'Neill's decision to scrap the ARU's 'early release' clause from its player contracts is under review again, with PLayers' Union supremo Tony Dempsey asking for reconsideration.

The Super 14 is boring : Justin Marshall
Former All Blacks halfback Justin Marshall who now plays for Welsh club the Ospreys says that international players from New Zealand, South Africa and Australia are signing up to play in the northern hemisphere in droves not because of the money.

Thorne to move to Japan
Former All Blacks captain Reuben Thorne is moving to Japan so that he can spend more time with his family of four.

Europe doesn't rate us: Jones
Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has dismissed talk that Australia faces a player exodus to Europe, saying only six Super 14 stars would rate as must-have signings by northern hemisphere clubs were they on the market.

Laulala stays loyal
The way Casey Laulala tells it, you could almost picture his pen poised over a Munster contract as he mulled a rain-drenched winter in Ireland.

Henjak hopeful of Europe deal
Sacked Western Force halfback Matt Henjak is hopeful of playing rugby in Europe next northern season.

Waugh warns of Rocky road
NEW South Wales Waratahs captain Phil Waugh believes the Australian Rugby Union is walking a "dangerous" path, negotiating with stars to play overseas temporarily but return for World Cup duties.

Marshall says Carters moving
Justin Marshall has made no secret that he has found a new lease of life in Wales and he has become a vocal advertisement for All Blacks - former or current - contemplating a move abroad.

ARU get in the ring with Rocky
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) are working overtime to prevent Waratahs and Wallaby star Rocky Elsom from making a lucrative move overseas.

Get ready for a pounding from rugby's rich Poms
Big-spending English rugby clubs will have an extra £1 million in their coffers as they get set for off-season raids on southern hemisphere talent, with off-contract All Black Daniel Carter as the principal target.

Giteau to stay in Australia
Wallaby superstar Matt Giteau has re-signed a contract which will keep him in Australian rugby for the next two years but has left the door open to leave the Western Force at the end of 2009.

Holmes to stay with the Reds
Wallabies prop Greg Holmes has delivered some welcome good news to Super 14 strugglers Queensland by agreeing to stick with the Reds for an extra season.

Flavell swaps lamb for sushi
Troy Flavell will be back playing in Japan by the end of the year.

Former All Blacks re-sign with Cardiff
New Zealanders Xavier Rush and Ben Blair have re-signed with Welsh club Cardiff Blues for a further three seasons.

Springboks exodus set to continue
Frederic Michalak is an anomaly in the migration patterns, the maverick outside-half is the sole French player moving to South Africa to play while hundreds of Boks head the other way.

Sharpe re-signs with Western Force
With the signature not yet dry on the contract which will keep Nathan Sharpe in Perth for the rest of his career, Western Force bosses have already begun the process of persuading Matt Giteau to stay.

Mortlock re-signs with ARU, Brumbies
Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock resisted "enormous money" from overseas and "global interest" in his services to effectively play out his career in Australia.

Big bucks offer to lure Burger
Stormers star Schalk Burger, already the highest earning rugby player in South Africa, has been approached by French and English clubs Toulon and Harlequins with offers of €650K and £450K respectively to sign for the European clubs.

Mauger has doubts about Cup return
Aaron Mauger has raised doubts about coming back to New Zealand for the 2011 World Cup.

Carter ponders future outside NZ
Dan Carter remains uncertain about his future in New Zealand rugby.

Brumbies still sweating on Mortlock re-signing
ACT Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan has resigned himself to the fact he is unlikely to have finalised Stirling Mortlock's future before the Super 14 season begins.

Mortlock seeks talks with new coach
Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock would like to meet new Australian coach Robbie Deans as soon as possible to discuss his future - and that of the national squad.

Howard says players won`t run
Australian Rugby Union (ARU) high-performance manager Pat Howard said the future of the sport in that country was not in jeopardy.

Top Young Kiwis `stay home`
Three top young players - Stephen Brett, Ben Franks and Tanerau Latimer - have extended their contracts with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU).

No talks with overseas Boks yet
Springboks coach Peter de Villiers insisted on Monday that he will not be talking to any South African players based at European clubs when he undertakes a fact-finding mission to the continent next month.

Elsom told to look overseas for contract
Wallabies and Waratahs forward Rocky Elsom has been advised by the Australian Rugby Union to have a look around at what offers he can get from British and European clubs because the ARU cannot afford current salaries.

ARU facing uphill battle
The tight financial constraints under which the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) is currently operating will make it substantially harder for players like Rocky Elsom and Wycliff Palu to stay loyal to their country.

It's raining yen for Stirling
Wallabies World Cup captain Stirling Mortlock is in danger of being lost to Australian rugby after receiving a massive $3.75 million offer to finish his glittering career in Japan.

Vickerman heads overseas
Wallabies World Cup lock Daniel Vickerman said today he was heading overseas at the end of the year and may play club rugby in Britain.

Larkham calls senior Wallabies to arms
Former Australia fly-half Stephen Larkham, now the prize asset of Japanese rugby, has called on fellow Wallaby veterans not to join him on the great Southern Hemisphere exodus.

Latham Set to Join Player Drain
The Australia full-back Chris Latham is set to join Worcester next season after turning down a new contract from the Wallabies.

South Africa lifts ban on overseas rugby players
South Africa's rugby bosses on Thursday lifted the ban on overseas-based players not being eligible for national selection.

New look teams emerge following post-RWC departures
Significant interest lay around this weeks naming of the Rebel Sport's Super 14 New Zealand franchise teams this week. After the demise of the All Blacks at the RWC, New Zealand is looking forward to rebuilding a team from a new pool of talent.

McAlister in vanguard of All Black brawn drain
Luke McAlister, the youngest of the All Blacks who have signed lucrative deals with northern hemisphere clubs, has defended his part in the post-World Cup exodus but admitted he may never return to New Zealand rugby.

South Africa acts to stem international player drain
The South African Rugby Union, deeply disturbed by departures of international players to big-time clubs in England and France, yesterday moved to staunch the harmorrhage.

NZ exodus turns into a flood
Will the last All Black leaving New Zealand please turn out the lights?