New Zealand Rugby believes signing-up All Blacks Julian Savea and Brodie Rettallick for the next two World Cups will stave off overseas clubs from poaching other top New Zealand players.
The 24-year-old Hurricanes winger Savea and the 23-year-old Chiefs lock Retallick, are seen as cornerstone players for the All Blacks beyond 2015, with several current All Blacks players set to retire or head overseas after the World Cup.
In announcing the re-sgining of Julian Savea and Brodie Rettallick, New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew compared their staying in New Zealand with retaining Richie Carter and Dan Carter on four year deals back in 2011.
He says keeping the likes of Savea and Rettallick can have an influence on other players turning down the lure of rich overseas contracts.
Brode Retallick (left) and Julian Savea have re-signed with New Zealand Rugby until 2019. Photo: Photosport
"In my time we've had a couple of really important announcements to make around player retention and a two of them were Dan and Richie, more recently Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock and we've been able to hand a lot of our strategy on player retention off really important signings and I would put these two in the same category," said Tew.
Their contracts do not include sabbatical clauses that would allow them extended breaks to play overseas but Tew says the contracts ensure their workloads will be managed.
Re-signing Julian Savea and Brodie Retallick is as significant of keeping Richie McCaw and Dan Carter (above) in 2011 says NZ Rugby CEO Steve Tew. Photo: Photosport
The All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has also endorsed the pair saying they will be the backbone of the All Blacks and their Super rugby franchises for years to come.
"That sets a pretty good message to the rest of guys.....you want an environment in New Zealand rugby, whether it be at franchise level or All Blacks, where it's really hard for guys to leave and having those guys here is a great plus."
Julian Savea wouldn't elaborate on what overseas offers he received but says staying in New Zealand was always his preference.
"I want to finish my career here so that's what tipped it for me...there's always going to be offers and you can have a look but it was good of New Zealand Rugby to recognise the importance of me staying and they made it easy."
While he's decided to re-sign with New Zealand Rugby Savea has another decision he now needs to make - whether to play for the Sevens side at next year's Rio Olympics.
Savea says he's discussed the matter with Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens and hopes to make a decision in the next couple of weeks.
"He's pretty interested in me being available...so I've got to weigh up my options and make a decision pretty quickly," he said.
"But it's going to be very hard to say no and its also going to be pretty hard to say no to the Hurricanes and the All Blacks."
Brodie Rettallick, who's already played 36 tests, says staying in New Zealand was also a straightforward decision for him.
"I'm still young and still enjoying playing for the best team in the world, the All Blacks, and the Chiefs is a great side to be a part of so I just want to be here as long as I can."
Savea and Retallick join a group of key All Blacks who've already re-signed beyond this year's world cup among them Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino Aaron Cruden, Ben Smith, Sonny Bill Williams. Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith.