Welsh club chases Cory Jane

ROSS GIBLIN/Dominion Post

TARGET: Welsh club Scarlets have their sights set on signing Hurricanes and All Blacks fullback Cory Jane.

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Welsh club Scarlets are reportedly hot on the tail of in-form Hurricanes and All Black fullback Cory Jane.

Welsh media are reporting that Jane is the No 1 target for the Llanelli-based club who hope to have the talented Wellington player on their books for next season.

However, any such move would come as a surprise given Jane's elevation in the New Zealand game and his likely status as backup to Mils Muliaina in the All Blacks.

It would be unlikely that either the Hurricanes or New Zealand rugby would be prepared to let the 26-year-old go, especially with Leon MacDonald having decided to exit the Kiwi game and head back to Japan.

The Canes possibly have an alternative fullback in the form of Israel Dagg of the Highlanders with the young Hawke's Bay No 15 sent south under draft regulations.

But Jane now appears to be very much next cab off the rank at test level behind Muliaina and given the Chiefs star's age and stated desire to pace himself through to the next World Cup, it would appear Jane could be set to add significantly to his two test caps in 2009.

But the Wales on Sunday newspaper reported that the Hurricanes star was being lined up as the club's replacement for the injured Morgan Stoddart next season.

Stoddart has been ruled out for a year after he suffered knee ligament damage in March while playing for the Scarlets.

The paper says Jane is expected to join Scotland wing Sean Lamont as the latest Scarlets signing for the summer.

Jane made his test debut for the All Blacks against Australia in Hong Kong and also came off the bench against Scotland on the Grand Slam tour.

If the former New Zealand sevens star does sign, he would become the third All Black, alongside Regan King and Kees Meeuws, in the Scarlets squad for next season.

Already this year former Hurricanes and All Black star Jerry Collins has made the move to Wales, linking with the Ospreys club.

The Welsh newspaper also reported that former All Black and Blues flanker Daniel Braid's move to the Scarlets appeared to be "dead in the water".

Braid ruptured his Achilles tendon while playing for the Queensland Reds this year, and the long-term layoff looks to have scuppered the two-year contract he signed.

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