Cullen stays on payroll as Munster hot on trail of two Kiwi stars

MUNSTER could be about to sign two big New Zealand names for next season’s Heineken Cup campaign.

The newly crowned champions are trailing quality centres and open side flankers with the lure of between €90,000 and €140,000 yearly salaries.

Top New Zealand player agent Craig Innes, a former international, confirmed yesterday that Munster and Toulouse have enquired about several players.

Toulouse are chasing Canterbury number eight Mose Tuiali’I, while Munster concentrate on players in other positions. It is known that New Zealand World Cup hopeful Casey Laulala has rejected offers to come to Ireland, but the hunt goes on.

Prime centre candidates would appear to be Ben Atiga and Niva Ta’auso, neither of whom are likely to be involved with the All Blacks in the World Cup.

In Munster’s bid to recruit a back/follow-up to David Wallace, they have also discussed with Innes the possibility of signing Bay of Plenty flanker Nili Latu or Wellington’s Ben Herring.

Meanwhile, Christian Cullen is likely to be offered a new short-term contract with a seriously reduced pay retainer, although with a much higher pay-for-play component.

Cullen has been dogged with injury since his arrival in Ireland nearly three years ago, but both Munster and the player appear to want the relationship to continue. It’s believed that the only stumbling block to this agreement could rest with the IRFU.

One, or possibly two of the Players Advisory Committee (though Leinster based) are not in favour of the request from Munster to keep Cullen on the books.

In relation to the possible signings of other New Zealand players, it could be, said Innes, that senior Munster players like Paul O’Connell, Ronan O’Gara and captain Anthony Foley, will be meeting with certain players in the coming week to outline just what they might expect if they do travel to Ireland.

Cullen could also play a role in securing the services of new players because he is currently on holiday to coincide with Ireland’s New Zealand/Australia tour.

Innes admitted: “We have had enquiries from Munster. They’re active and they’re a pretty ambitious club; always looking for players, but players who will bring a high standard of play to the team and leave something behind them by helping the development of home-based players.”