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Cape Town - Veteran All Blacks prop Owen Franks has turned his back on advances from Toulon and will join Northampton after the Rugby World Cup, according to reports in France, while Sale Sharks are luring Brodie Retallick.
According to the Stuff website, Retallick has been linked to a move to Sale Sharks, with The Rugby Paper reporting he has been offered a £1m (R17.5m) deal for after the World Cup.
The Rugby Paper has reported Retallick, 27, one of New Zealand's greatest ever locks, is in 'advanced discussions' to join Sale, who are prepared to make him one of the highest paid players in the world.
Currently, the highest paid player in England is former All Black Charles Piutau, who is on £1 million a season with Bristol.
The Rugby Paper suggested Retallick's time with Sale could be short and it would be seen as a sabbatical type arrangement where he'd return to New Zealand in time for the 2023 World Cup.
For Franks, who has played in 105 Tests for the All Blacks since making his debut in 2009, he is believed to have agreed a two-year deal to play for the English Premiership club, with there being an option for a third year.
Midi Olympique has reported that the 31-year-old, Franks weighed up whether to join Toulon or Northampton and chose the latter, becoming part of a growing trend of All Blacks deciding not to go to France, with Ardie Savea, Kieran Read, Ryan Crotty and Beauden Barrett also turning down French approaches.
Nehe Milner-Skudder though has bucked the trend and has signed a three-year deal with Toulon.
Franks would link up with former Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd at the Saints, while he'll also be teaming up again with his brother Ben, who also plays for the club.
Meanwhile, Midi Olympique is also reporting that Waisake Naholo is close to deciding where he'll play after the World Cup, with the wing narrowing down his options to either London Irish or Wasps.
