Charles Piutau Move to Ulster Sign of the Times for New Zealand Rugby

All Blacks outside back Charles Piutau's decision to sign a two-year deal with Irish club Ulster is, while unexpected, a sign of the times for New Zealand rugby. At 23, he remains a great prospect who has his best rugby ahead of him. Unfortunately for the All Blacks, they will not see any of that over the next two years.

Everyone has their price, and for a 23 year old, a million-dollar contract is surely hard to turn down, as is the opportunity to earn this money while travelling the world.

In the past, the prestige of the All Blacks jersey has been New Zealand's main counter against the lucrative contracts on offer from European and Japanese clubs. It has allowed them to retain the likes of Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Conrad Smith. 

The European and Japanese routes have traditionally been ones taken by players in the twilight of their careers hoping to make some good money in their last few years. At that stage, they have usually secured their place in All Black history and most likely have their best rugby behind them.

That was the way for the first decade of professionalism at least.

The first big name to buck with tradition was powerhouse tighthead prop Carl Hayman. A strong scrummager, outstanding lineout lifter and powerful player in the tight, Hayman had the potential to go down as New Zealand's greatest tighthead prop ever.

In 2007, after a failed World Cup campaign, Hayman left New Zealand at the peak of his career, never to return in a rugby-playing capacity. Despite relentless attempts to get him back, the money was just too good for Hayman to turn down in Europe. As a result, he probably will not go down as one of the All Black greats because he simply did not play for them long enough.

It was a huge wound to New Zealand rugby. For the first time, a high-profile player at the top of his game had chosen money over the All Black jersey. All of a sudden, the All Black jersey lost some of its prestige.

Since then, the increasing importance placed on the World Cup has seen players picked for development. As much as the selectors claim they pick the best players for every game, there have been selections in recent years that suggest otherwise.

Indeed a handful of players chosen in 2012 and 2013 are hardly even dead certain Super Rugby players. With all due respect to these men, it cheapens the jersey when anyone other than the top players are given it. All of a sudden, the jersey is not the sacred domain of the elite, and that means it holds slightly less mystique and slightly less value.

As its value decreases, which has become particularly evident in the first two years in the "four-year World Cup cycle", it has less pulling power.

After the last World Cup, we saw Jerome Kaino leave New Zealand after the best two years of his career. He returned last year in time for the World Cup and has now signed on until 2018.

Luke McAlister made a similar move after the 2007 World Cup, returning to New Zealand in 2009, while Chris Jack made a similar move. The past six months have seen Hosea Gear and Sonny Bill Williams return in the hope of earning World Cup selection.

That players like this are prepared to leave at the height of their careers is a sign that the black jersey no longer holds the same attraction it once did. Players are prepared to forgo being an All Black, even if just temporarily, for lucrative contracts.

Piutau's decision, while unexpected, merely follows a trend that looks likely to become more and more prevalent. He will likely return for the 2019 World Cup, again showing that it is the World Cup, not the black jersey, that has pulling power over the lucrative overseas contracts.

It is new however, to see someone just entering their prime leave. Perhaps the money was just too good to refuse. Maybe it's just a sign of the times that we'll have to accept.