Jordie Barrett's deal with Leinster shocked the rugby world and has potentially changed the game for club rugby in the northern hemisphere.
The short-term deal will see Barrett join Leinster after the November Internationals and see him play in blue until the end of the season before returning to New Zealand in time for the summer tests.
It gives us fans in Europe a chance to see some of the best players in the world on our shores more regularly and helps the case of the Champions Cup being the best tournament in club rugby.
It now looks like Barrett won't be the only one making the move from New Zealand to Europe in the near future.
Reports coming from Rugby Prime in France indicate that Damian McKenzie is set to make the move to France and join La Rochelle on a short-term deal next season after the 2025 Rugby Championship.
The deal looks to be a similar one to the one Jordie Barrett signed with Leinster for this upcoming season as part of a sabbatical clause in new All Blacks deals.
While most players try to maximise their earning potential with short-term deals in Japan, Barrett and potentially McKenzie look to be leading the charge of plying their trade in the Northern Hemisphere and play in Europe's top competitions.
Now the Top 14 is more than used to having All Blacks stars in their league with Dan Carter, Sonny Bill Williams and Ma'a Nonu to name a few have been part of the league in the past.
It will be interesting to see how he fits in Ronan O'Gara's squad as he will likely replace fellow Kiwi Ihaia West who's contract will expire in 2025.
La Rochelle some into this current season off the back of a disappointing season by their standards as they were dumped out of the Champions Cup in the quarterfinals by Leinster and were beaten 39-23 by Toulouse in the semifinals of the Top 14 playoffs.
Adding someone of the level of Damian McKenzie will make facing La Rochelle and even more daunting task if it wasn't already. The 2024-25 season has barely begun and now we're already excited for 2025-26.
