All Blacks: Vito, Dagg and Jane chased by European clubs

European clubs have their sights on Cory Jane, Israel Dagg and Victor Vito. Photos / NZME

Europe's top clubs have swung into full recruitment mode and have their sights set on fringe All Blacks Victor Vito, Israel Dagg and Cory Jane.

All three are believed to be scouring the offshore market to help them determine whether they are willing to stay in New Zealand and fight to win more test caps.

Vito, having picked up two World Cup winners' medals as a bit part squad player, is off contract with the Hurricanes at the end of the 2016 Super Rugby season. French club La Rochelle are hunting him, but he is believed to have other offers and is not in any rush to commit his future.

He was shopped around Europe this time last year - uncertain in early January whether he was going to be part of Steve Hansen's All Black plans. Toulouse were the lead bidder, but others were keen, too.

As the season progressed and he produced some of the best form of his career and opted to sign a one-year deal as it became apparent he had risen up the national pecking order.
Now he finds himself in a similar position, but with a longer term agenda dominating his thoughts. At 28, he is trying to weigh up whether he is a realistic chance of still being an All Black in 2019.

He has to factor in his age and more pertinently the growing competition for places. Liam Messam has committed to playing Sevens and is likely to be off to Japan after that, but Jerome Kaino is locked in until 2018. There is also a significant number of rising loose forward talent in the pipeline - Akira Ioane is a hugely exciting prospect; Ardie Savea, Elliot Dixon, Steven Luatua and Brad Shields are all in the frame and then there are players such as Jordan Taufua, Luke Whitelock and Liam Squire who could develop quickly.

Vito is also aware that the All Blacks under Hansen have become wedded to the idea of not having a specialist lock on the bench. To cover for that, they have used the likes of Kaino and to a lesser extent, Vito, as their lock cover.

But Hansen has always wanted a genuine lock-cum-blindside and Vito's Hurricanes team-mate, Blade Thomson, might come more heavily into consideration this year - which will be his second Super Rugby campaign.

It is understood that Vito has instructed his agent to assess the offshore market again and French club La Rochelle have tabled a good offer.

La Rochelle are not a major club but have been impressed with the output of former All Black Jason Eaton whom they bought last year.

Dagg, who is currently recovering from a dislocated shoulder, is in the same boat as Vito. He's not expected to be fit until April but may have to make his decision before then.
As a near 50-test All Black he has strong market value and could earn a major contract in Europe. Again he has to consider whether he really can force his way back into the All Black equation.

He missed out on a World Cup place this year as the selectors opted to take Ben Smith, Julian Savea, Waisake Naholo and Nehe Milner-Skudder. All four of them are back this year and would all be good bets to make it to 2019.

Jane recently signed a three-year contract to stay in New Zealand but would no doubt be granted dispensation to leave early if he wanted.