Rugby: Vince Aso turns down French offers to stay with Hurricanes

Vince Aso of the Hurricanes celebrates a try with teammates TJ Perenara and Ngani Laumape. Photo / Getty

Vince Aso is not ready to give up the dream. Offshore riches failed to turn his head, and so he has re-signed with the Hurricanes and Auckland for two more seasons through to 2020.

Swimming against the tide of talent leaving New Zealand's shores, Aso is understood to have turned down salaries in France starting around $500,000 (NZD) per-season.

At 23, the lure of the All Blacks jersey still holds true and he is also keen to play another 70-odd games for the Hurricanes.

"I'm still young and I've got more goals to achieve here in New Zealand," Aso told the Herald.

"I heard about all the contracts from overseas but I didn't think that was going to prove anything. I just want to make sure I at least complete some goals.

"I want to make the hundy club with the Canes and it's every kid's dream to become an All Black. It's a hard goal but achieving that one day would be awesome."

Aso, cousin of the Ioane brothers, has steadily progressed from the New Zealand under-20s to Auckland and the Hurricanes.

The balance of returning to Auckland for the Mitre 10 Cup, and enjoying time with family before shifting back to Wellington, is working well for him.

The St Peter's College product joined the Hurricanes in 2015 but despite making the bench did not feature that season, instead soaking up lessons from the likes of Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu.

After making his Super Rugby debut and sharing midfield duties with Ngani Laumape and Willis Halaholo in 2016, Aso made his mark at this level last year.

He scored 14 tries, one behind Laumape, in a season where he made the right wing his own with some brilliant finishing and pace.

"It was an out of the blue campaign for me to get that many tries. All the hard work in the preseason paid off. It was one to remember."

Aso is equally comfortable on the wing or at centre but has a fight on his hands to regain a starting spot at the Hurricanes this season, with Ben Lam impressing on the wing and Matt Proctor preferred alongside Laumape in the midfield to date.

New Zealand Rugby is preparing for an exodus after the 2019 World Cup, and by signing on until 2020 Aso has committed to keep knocking on the door of the All Blacks.

"That's why I thought I'd hang around. If I keep putting in the work hopefully I'll get a crack."

To get the day's top sports stories in your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here