All Blacks star first-five Beauden Barrett will stay in the black jersey until at least the end of 2019, after re-signing with the Hurricanes, Taranaki and New Zealand Rugby.
Barrett was pivotal in the Hurricanes' Super Rugby title win this year, but his stellar performances had fuelled speculation he might be lured overseas - or tempted by an offer from another New Zealand franchise.
Barrett said he did receive some international offers.
"There were negotiations or approaches made to my agent, Warren, but that's where it was left - I never got into any of those discussions.
"I was clear where I wanted to be and my job was just to focus on playing footy, so nothing progressed too far at all," he said.
All Blacks first five eighth Beauden Barrett in action Photo: PHOTOSPORT
While there had been speculation he would move elsewhere after the Hurricanes' great season, it was a no-brainer for him to stay put, he said.
"It's where I want to be ... another opportunity, another three years till the World Cup - that's a huge focus of mine, targetting the next World Cup.
"The black jersey means a lot to me and also playing for Taranaki and the Hurricanes.
"The last two seasons we've [the Hurricanes] had, it's really exciting with the core group of players we have and the talent that's still around, so yeah I'm stoked to extend it for another few years."
Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee said his re-signing was a coup for the franchise.
"It's massive," he said.
"We had a conversation with Beaudy several months ago and he gave a strong indication that he wasn't looking anywhere else and we've taken his word on that.
Steve Tew, Beauden Barrett and Avan Lee at the announcement Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
"It speaks volumes for the guy he is - he could've gone anywhere, but he's happy to stay here and play for us and the All Blacks."
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said they worked really hard to make it as attractive as possible for stars like Barrett to remain in New Zealand.
"The landscape's been challenging for a long time," Tew said.
"We're fortunate we have a new collective [agreement] in place that has some increased revenue available for us to contract players with, but the French market, as we've said often enough, is completely out of control.
"But we can just deal with what we deal with and that is to create an environment both within the All Black camp, but I think more generally in rugby, to keep these guys here and make them want to play and stay in the country."
Tew was keeping quiet about how much money they spent on retaining Barrett, but said re-signing the young star had been a priority for New Zealand Rugby.
Barrett could lure brothers north
But Beauden might not be the only Barrett to run out for the Hurricanes in the coming years.
He comes from a large family with four brothers and three sisters and two of his younger brothers are making their own waves in rugby down south.
Scott Barrett, 22, plays lock and has signed with the Crusaders for the next two years, playing his provincial rugby for Canterbury in the Mitre 10 Cup.
He is joined in Canterbury's provincial squad by his younger Jordie Barrett, 19, who played second five-eighth for New Zealand at the Under 20 World Cup in June.
Jordie Barrett scores a try against Ireland at the Under 20 World Cup in England. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Beauden Barrett said he hoped to convince his brothers to make the move north to join him at the Hurricanes in the future.
"It'll make my parents lives a bit easier," he said.
"But I guess my brothers are leading their own lives and creating their own pathways and they're both playing some good footy, so, whilst they're big boys [and] they can make their own decisions, it'll be great to have them in a Hurricanes jersey - or even a Taranaki jersey one day.
"I'll be putting a bit of pressure on Jordie in the next couple of weeks though."
Beauden has described his 19-year-old brother's recent performances on the park as "unbelievable".
"I just remember him being the bub of the family we call him, so just to see him doing his thing down there, [I'm] pretty proud of him," he said.
"I don't want to force anything upon him. He obviously has to earn his selection or opportunity, so we don't like to create any expectation on the young fella."
