Hawke's Bay All Black Israel Dagg is believed to be engaged to long-time girlfriend Daisy Aitken.
The pair were reported to be showing off Aitken's engagement ring to a reporter and photographer from a women's magazine at Gisborne Airport yesterday.
Dagg's mother Horiana Nukutarawhiti, of Hastings, said she had also heard the rumours. She was expecting the pair to pass on the news to family when they arrive in the Bay for Christmas next week. "We're rapt ... the announcement is going to add to the excitement of Christmas for all of us."
Dagg and Aitken met during their secondary school years when Dagg attended Lindisfarne College in Hastings and Aitken Woodford House in Havelock North. Aitken trained as an interior designer.
The pair recently built a house together in Christchurch and holidayed together in Europe after the All Blacks' end-of-year tour. Dagg, 25, has been Christchurch-based since joining the Crusaders in 2011 after two Super seasons with the Highlanders.
He has played 38 games for the All Blacks since his 2010 debut and 43 games for the Magpies since his 2006 debut but has been unavailable for the Magpies since 2011.