Munster hot on the trail of All Black winger Howlett
The versatile New Zealand winger has played over 50 tests, and can also perform at centre or full back.
Reports last night suggested Munster officials hope to talk to the player this week, and are ready to table a lucrative three-year contract offer in the hope of beating off loads-a-money clubs from France and the English Premiership.
Munster coach, Declan Kidney, was remaining tight-lipped last night, but he didn’t rule out that the province is in the market for a top overseas signing.
He said: “We’re always in the market for good players — that will never cease from one end to the other. For today’s Magners League launch, we had to register a squad for that. But the permitting system for the ML it is not as tight as the Heineken Cup.
“With all contractual stuff there are always different names thrown around. We’ve never said anything during negotiations, but we’d always to be talking to who is available.
“Obviously, having just returned from America, we’re trying to catch up with things. We’re in negotiations with different players all the time. If we mentioned every name, we’d only be feeding everyone rubbish and we don’t want to do that.”
At 28, Howlett is a veteran of the All Blacks back-line and he is top scorer in the all-time Super 14 try-scoring list with 58 tries, getting his 58th in March against the Waikato Chiefs.
He has scored 43 tries in 59 tests for the All Blacks during his career, one behind Jeff Wilson and three short of Christian Cullen on the All Blacks all-time list.
He is a member of Graham Henry’s 30-man RWC squad but will be fighting for the two wing positions with Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu.
He signed off his domestic season in mid August by posting his 50th try for the Auckland province in the Air New Zealand Cup.
Howlett has also proved he can play a full back, an area where Munster lack adequate cover after the retirement of Shaun Payne in the summer.
If Howlett does sign for the 2006 Heineken Cup champions, it will be a coup for the province after fellow All Blacks, Rico Gear and Luke McAlister, turned down the chance to come to the Irish province.
Munster’s next game is a pre-season friendly against Saracens in Musgrave Park on Friday week, September 7 and they meet Italian side Viadana at the same venue on the following Friday, September 14.
Both games kick-off at 7pm.
Munster’s opening Magners League fixture is against Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park on Saturday, September 22nd (5.30pm).
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