Matt Todd scores against France in June and had an outstanding season for the Crusaders.

Japan has emerged as an ally of New Zealand Rugby as it tries to think of ways to stop Kiwi players being lost permanently to rich French and English clubs.

A number of fringe All Blacks including Matt Todd have left New Zealand recently to play in Japan, where the relatively short season (and no season in 2019 due to the World Cup) and proximity to New Zealand make it an attractive option.

"We've got a number of higher profile Super Rugby players wo are going to spend the second half of the year in Japan," said New Zealand Rugby Head of Professional Rugby Chris Lendrum.

"In a world where there are a range of evils around player retention it is the lesser of two evils.

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"It's significantly closer to New Zealand than Europe, the top companies pay very well, and its obviously a lifestyle experience. Almost all of those players are returning to play Super Rugby in 2019 and be available almost all the way through 2019 .

"That is a little bit how the world is starting to work and there is a benefit to New Zealand clearly in that we get these players back - they are departing on a temporary basis."

Todd will be joined by Elliot Dixon, Israel Dagg, Augustine Pulu and Tom Franklin, among others, signalling NZ Rugby's willingness to sign off on deals that will allow players to return to New Zealand to pursue their All Blacks ambitions.

Player agent Shane Singe said the Japanese option was becoming increasingly attractive for players who otherwise might seek a European deal.

HANNAH PETERS/GETTY IMAGES Elliot Dixon will return to the Highlanders in 2019 after a stint in Japan.

"Players are becoming a little bit more understanding of the wear and tear on your body [in Japan compared with Europe], the proximity to New Zealand, the length of the European season."

It remains to be seen whether the current spike in players heading to Japan turns into a trend but Lendrum admitted NZ Rugby was in talks with Japanese corporations about "building more sustainable relationships".

"Ideally you'd like to keep all of your players all of the time but that is unrealistic for New Zealand Rugby," he said. "We sit at the bottom of the world, we're small economically, we don't have as much money as our competitors so the reality is we have to be nimble and we have to think about things slightly differently."

However, he conceded NZ Rugby had to perform a balancing act.

"It's not without its own complication," he said. "It does impact Mitre 10 Cup and we've got a lot of empathy for our friends and colleagues in provincial unions.

"Southland for example would dearly love to have Elliot Dixon playing for them in the Mitre 10 Cup and I'm sure he'd make a real impact for them on and off the field.

"But Elliot Dixon comes back to the Highlanders and probably Southland next year so that is better than not seeing Elliot Dixon back in New Zealand full stop."