Slade off to France

Colin Slade will join newly-promoted Top 14 side Pau on a three-year deal from next season.

Pau head coach Simon Mannix confirmed the club has signed the 27-year-old All Blacks flyhalf.

'Colin is one of the top 10 [flyhalves] in the world and has reached his peak at 27. For me, he's a really good all-round player and a nice young man off the pitch,' said Mannix.

'His recruitment once again underlines the club's ambition,' he added. 

Slade made his All Blacks debut against the Wallabies in 2010 and went on to play 17 Tests. At Pau, he will link up with All Blacks centre Conrad Smith, who signed a two-year contract with the French club.

Photo: Rob Jefferies/Getty Images

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