Payne in action for the Blues. When will we see him in Belfast?
Speculation is emanating from New Zealand rugby circles that after a series of strong games for the Aukland based Blues franchise in the Super XV that Jared Payne may have forced his way into the reckoning for an international call up to the New Zealand All Blacks.
The New Zealand Herald raised the speculation today as have other online forums throughout the super XV competition.
The All Blacks are a strong group. They could be sharper with newer faces. Who?
How about Ben Smith, Sean Maitland, Jared Payne, Victor Vito, Jarrad Hoeata and Charlie Faumuina.
Such a call up would certainly throw the transfer to Ulster into confusion as it is believed that Payne has been contracted by Ulster as a “project” player, with both Ulster and the IRFU hoping that he would declare his availability for Ireland after his three season residency. Any call up to the All Blacks would obviously nullify this opportunity and would leave Ulster having to review their plans for overseas player involvement for the next few seasons with Payne now filling one of the four available spots.
It is unlikely that the transfer would fall through, should Payne get a cap for New Zealand, but it would leave Ulster having to go cap in hand to the IRFU for some leeway in future overseas transfers if their plan for World Domination is to proceed to schedule. 
Payne, who is Northland’s captain in the ITM Cup, was expected to join Ulster at the end of the Air New Zealand/ITM Cup competition, but should he be involved in the New Zealand set up for the 2011 Rugby World Cup then instead of being available at the end of August it would be the end of October and Payne would have played for nine months solid before heading into a further nine months with Ulster.
The situation should clarify over the next few weeks as New Zealand name their squad for a truncated Tri Nations competition which starts on 23rd July.
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