When it came down to it, Charles Piutau felt he would be doing the wrong thing to turn down the money. He had test ambitions, knew he loved playing for the All Blacks and that in all likelihood, if he hung around beyond 2015, he'd get plenty of opportunity to add to his 17 test caps.
And he'd been all set to hang around. He had even committed to the point of signing a contract extension with New Zealand Rugby through to 2017.
The deal he had signed in February 2015 was believed to have been for around $250,000 a season. It was an uplift on what he had previously earned and while it was a significant amount of money, it wasn't life changing.
He would be fairly low down the earning pecking order on that sort of money, but he'd have the chance to play test football – an experience that was difficult to put a price on - and, if he played well, it would inevitably see his market value soar.
Piutau would be playing the long game – commit to New Zealand, establish his test legacy and enjoy a career that would be rich with experience and ultimately deliver a reasonable pot of money at the end.
But in a quirk of fate, just as he made up his mind and signed his contract, his agent fielded an offer from Ulster. The Irish province had a war chest and they were eager to find promising offshore talent.
Piutau was exactly what they were looking for: a versatile outside back whose best days were ahead, not behind him.
The offer was astronomical – four times what he would be earning in New Zealand and most definitely life-changing.
Denne historien er fra Issue 205, June - July 2020-utgaven av NZ Rugby World.
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Denne historien er fra Issue 205, June - July 2020-utgaven av NZ Rugby World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The 20 Most Memorable Rugby Acts Of 2020
2020- Most Amazing Rugby Acts
RUGBY ROYALTY
FRANS STEYN’S IMPACT AT LAST YEAR’S WORLD CUP ADDED MORE PRESTIGE TO A DECORATED CAREER THAT ISN’T OVER YET. CRAIG LEWIS FROM SA RUGBY MAGAZINE REPORTS.
WINGING IT FOR LONGER
TYPICALLY POWER WINGS DON'T LAST LONG IN THE ALL BLACKS. BUT CALEB CLARKE AND RIEKO IOANE ARE HOPING TO BUCK THE TREND.
TOUGHEST JOB IN THE WORLD
NZ RUGBY WORLD EDITOR GREGOR PAUL HAS A NEW BOOK OUT CALLED THE CAPTAIN'S RUN. IN IT HE EXPLORES WHAT IT TAKES TO LEAD THE WORLD'S BEST RUGBY TEAM, HOW THE JOB HAS CHANGED AND HOW THE VARIOUS LEADERS HAVE DEALT WITH PRESSURE, FAILURE AND SUCCESS.
WOW FACTOR
SCOTT ROBERTSON IS UNORTHODOX BUT HE'S ALSO BRILLIANT AND WANTS A JOB WITH THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS.
RUGBY REBORN
COVID BROUGHT ECONOMIC CARNAGE IN 2020 BUT RATHER THAN BEING SEEN AS A WRECKER OF FORTUNES, THE PANDEMIC WAS ACTUALLY A GIANT BLESSING.
BATTLE FOR THE BLEDISLOE
THE UNPRECEDENTED CONDITIONS OF 2020 SAW THE INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR HASTILY REDRAWN AND IN A UNIQUE TWIST FOR THE PROFESSIONAL AGE, THE ALL BLACKS PLAYED FOUR CONSECUTIVE TESTS AGAINST AUSTRALIA.
PACIFIC POWER HOUSE
FIJI HAVE NEVER QUITE BEEN ABLE TO FULFIL THEIR ENORMOUS POTENTIAL. BUT THEY MIGHT NOW FOLLOWING THE APPOINTMENT OF VERN COTTER AS HEAD COACH.
THE PEOPLE'S CHAMPION
ON AND OFF THE FIELD, SPRINGBOKS WING CHESLIN KOLBE CONTINUES TO MAKE AN INSPIRATIONAL IMPACT.
DEFENCE FORCE ONE
THE BLUES WERE A RADICALLY DIFFERENT TEAM IN 2020 AND MUCH OF THAT WAS DUE TO THEIR VASTLY IMPROVED WORK ON DEFENCE.
