It wasn’t meant to be.

All Blacks legend Doug Howlett has revealed that he approached Munster about trying to get them to sign Julian Savea.

Howlett famously signed for Munster following the 2007 Rugby World Cup, enjoying a legendary spell at the province that saw him lift the 2008 Heineken Cup, before going on to captain the club.

He still holds the All Blacks try-scoring record, with an incredible 49 tries, and he wanted the man who is chasing that record to follow in his footsteps and make the move to  the southwest of Ireland. Savea has been overlooked in recent All Blacks squads, and currently sits at 46 tries for his country.

Howlett, who is now Munster’s Head of Commercial and Marketing, told BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly:

“I’ve tried to talk Munster into signing Julian Savea and getting him up here but at this stage it’s not something we are looking for.”

Savea is still just 27, and has said in the past that he’s interested in moving to Europe. Could we eventually see him at Munster? Never say never.

Simon Zebo’s development was massively helped by having Howlett around, now with him leaving, could Savea be the man to help bring on the next Zebo?