Cape Town - All Blacks captain Kieran Read and midfielder Ryan Crotty are off to Japanese clubs after the 2019 Rugby World Cup and Aaron Smith and Dane Coles could follow, according to European media reports.
According to the Stuff website, France's daily sports newspaper L'Equipe reported on Monday that Read would not be joining Paris club Racing 92 for the 2019/20 season and was now likely to join a Japanese club.
France's Rugby Rama website said Read, 33, was being linked to the Toyota Verblitz club while Crotty, 30, was set to sign for the Kubota Spears in a deal to be announced this week by New Zealand Rugby.
Rugby Rama also claimed Read and Crotty would be followed by Smith, 30, and Coles, 32.
The All Blacks have traditionally lost senior players after Rugby World Cup campaigns, but the moves to Japan represent a new trend.
Five members of the All Blacks' last World Cup winning squad - Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Charlie Faumuina, Victor Vito and Colin Slade - joined French clubs after the 2015 tournament, and five more - Aaron Cruden, Malakai Fekitoa, Julian Savea, Jerome Kaino, Liam Messam and Tawera Kerr-Barlow have since followed the path to France.
Nehe Milner-Skudder has also agreed a three-year deal with Toulon after the 2019 World Cup.
New Zealand, like England, but in contrast to South Africa's policy, do not select overseas-based players for their national team.
If Read does join Toyota Verblitz, he will play under South Africa's 2007 Rugby World Cup winning coach Jake White.
Crotty would be coached by another South African, Frans Ludeke, at Kubota Spears.
Following the conclusion of the various end of year tours to Europe, who is your favourite for the 2019 Rugby World Cup title?
