The Hurricanes may have won Friday night's local derby against the Blues to move into Super Rugby playoff contention, but they're losing one of their stars to a lucrative offshore deal.
The Hurricanes fullback Andre Taylor's confirmed he's signed a two-year contract to play in Japan.
Taylor was being talked about as an All Black prospect two seasons ago, but now the 26-year-old is leaving to play for the Kintetsu Liners.
Taylor says the reality is not everyone is going to be an All Black and he had to consider the number of good players vying for the same position, but says he hasn't given up.
Andre Taylor joins his Taranaki team-mate Jarrad Hoeata, the Blues front rower Tom McCartney and the Chiefs back Bundee Aki in accepting big overseas deals in recent weeks.
