All Blacks centre Ryan Crotty will leave New Zealand after the Rugby World Cup after signing a contract with Japanese side Kubota.
Crotty confirmed on Monday that the World Cup would be his last as an All Black after a decade of Super Rugby and six seasons of regular Test rugby.
"The All Blacks, Crusaders and Canterbury rugby have been such an important part of my life and I'm grateful for every opportunity I've had to represent my country, my province and my family over the years," Crotty said on Monday.
"I'm a proud Cantabrian and Christchurch will always be home, but I'm really looking forward to taking on a new challenge in the Top League as part of the Kubota Spears club.
"I know I'll look back at the end of my career in New Zealand with really fond memories of the experiences I've had and what I've achieved alongside my good mates, but for now my focus is enjoying the season ahead and helping to lead this Crusaders side one last time in 2019."
Crotty made his international debut against the Wallabies in 2013 and has played 44 Tests for New Zealand since then, including the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Crotty's decision comes on the same day his Test teammate scrumhalf Aaron Smith re-committed to the Highlanders and New Zealand Rugby through two 2021.
Smith, 30, lifted the Webb Ellis trophy in 2015 has made 82 international appearances since his debut seven years ago and will remain with franchise the Highlanders.
"From my earliest playing days, my focus has always been about being passionate about the teams I play for and I've always enjoyed giving 100 percent to the teams I represent," Smith said.
"I love representing the Highlanders and the All Blacks and playing my rugby in New Zealand gives me the chance to continue to do that," he added as a deal abroad would have ended his international career.
The controversial off-the-field figure has been handed two separate formal warnings by the NZR after a highly publicised airport toilet incident where he was caught emerging with a woman from a cubicle before a flight to South Africa in 2016.
The enquiry into the original incident was reopened in 2017 when the woman at the centre of the affair claimed Smith offered her money to lie in a legal affidavit that they did not have sex in the toilet.
The woman told reporters she had been involved in an affair with Smith for two years after the player had said it was a "one-off incident".
NZR chief executive Steve Tew said he was pleased with Smith's renewal after captain Kieran Read and experienced pair Ben Smith and Owen Franks signalled the end of their international careers by signing contracts abroad.
"New Zealand Rugby has been working incredibly hard on the retention of our key players and, while it's inevitable that some will move on following the Rugby World Cup, we'll still have a core of experience in the All Blacks post 2019, and Aaron will be a key part of that group," he said.
