Former All Blacks winger Julian Savea will leave the Hurricanes at the end of the Super Rugby season to join French Top 14 side Toulon.
Savea scored 46 tries in 54 Tests during his All Blacks career, making him New Zealand's second highest try scorer of all-time behind Doug Howlett, and he took to Twitter to announce the news of his move to France.
It's been an absolute pleasure New Zealand 🙌🏾 thank you for everything @Hurricanesrugby @AllBlacks & @WgtnRugby I've absolutely loved playing for my country for the past decade. Looking forward to this new adventure & joining @RCTofficiel in a few months #AuRevoir 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/IanNDxleNP
— Julian Savea (@juliansavea7) June 18, 2018
The 27-year-old's last appearance in an All Blacks jersey came last year after losing his starting spot to Rieko Ioane, but coach Steve Hansen was quick to heap praise on Savea ahead of his move to Europe.
"Jules can be incredibly proud of everything he has achieved in the black jersey," Hansen said. "He is a devastating ball runner who inspired others with his physicality and try-scoring prowess.
"On behalf of all the All Blacks, we want to wish Julian and his family all the very best and thank him for everything he has done for the All Blacks."
Savea will officially move to Toulon at the start of August.