Israel Dagg reacts to 'devastating' potential departure of Fergus Burke

The Crusaders are counting down the weeks until their battered and bruised squad can finally field a top-strength XV, but that may be a short-lived luxury.

RugbyPass reported on Saturday that Fergus Burke was close to signing a deal with English club Saracens who are in the market for a playmaker after Owen Farrell decided to sign with French club Racing 92.

That news quickly reached the ears of former Crusaders fullback and Rugby World Cup winner Israel Dagg, who labelled the potential loss of his hometown team's premier first five-eighth "devastating".

"It's huge, isn't it? At 24 years of age, only young," Dagg said on SENZ Breakfast. "He's going to get a hell of a lot of opportunities and it's an opportunity for him to go have a crack.

"If you think of what's next for Fergus in New Zealand, is he going to have an opportunity to play for the All Blacks? Probably not - no disrespect. So, the opportunity lies over there in the north to go build a future and potentially play international rugby.

"We've seen a hell of a lot of players here that are on the cusp heading over there; Oli Jager, he's got Irish roots so he's gone over and got his opportunity.

"So yeah, it's devastating for Crusaders fans but it's sport, it happens."

Burke has been Richie Mo'unga's understudy during his Crusaders career and has also featured at fullback during the various absences of Will Jordan.

With Mo'unga signing in Japan, the loss of the club's most successful playmaker was mitigated by the presence of a promising youngster with years of growth in the Crusaders system and relationships with his fellow backs.

However, there appears to have been a tug-of-war for Burke's talents going on behind closed doors. Saracens aren't the first club to approach the four-time Super Rugby champion, with Scotland and the Glasgow Warriors engaging with Burke as the national team looks to fortify their playmaker stocks for life after Finn Russell.

Burke would still be eligible for Scotland duties if he were to sign with Saracens, but it makes little difference for Crusaders fans eager to cling to the withering positives in their team's immediate future.

Burke's current contract with New Zealand Rugby finishes this year.