2019 World Cup

A record war chest of more than £120 million (NZ$233.5m) is to be invested in the professional game over the next two years and the RFU has given the green light to the "detailed and comprehensive plans" of Jones for the build-up to the tournament in Japan.

Expenditure on professional rugby in England soared last year by over 50 per cent to a record £63.7 million ($124 million). Investment going into the 2015 World Cup was £44.3 million ($86.2 million).

Months after being named 2009’s Young World Player of the year, Fruean was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and ordered to have emergency surgery.

His sternum was split down the middle — leaving an eight-inch scar — and his teenage dreams of playing for the All Blacks suddenly vanished. He had a second bout of open-heart surgery in 2013 and, the following year, two further operations after his doctor spotted dangerous heartbeat irregularities.

The 35-year-old has been with French giants Toulouse since 2009 but will move to a new club in the Northern off-season.

The 59 test veteran, who played for Samoa at the Brisbane Tens on the weekend, said he was keen to extend his international career.

"I never thought of it at first but after signing a couple of years more and the World Cup being the same year my contract finishes," he said.