Howlett opts for Heineken rugby with Munster

?There?s a lot of rugby to be played in the next few months, however we are looking forward to welcoming Doug to the Munster fold on January 1st.?

Munster Rugby CEO Garrett Fitzgerald echoced the views saying, ?Doug is a world class player at the peak of his playing career and is respected by all that know him.

"Doug agreeing to join Munster is a great boost for our supporters, players and management. We wish him well in the RWC and look forward to him and his family arriving in Ireland.?

Speaking on the move Howlett, 28, said: ?This was a very big decision to make. I have had an amazing rugby career in New Zealand and I am grateful to every person who has worked with me and contributed to that.

?I consider next year at Munster as a fantastic opportunity to play for another great club and experience a different lifestyle with my family."

Howlett is the current top try scorer in Super 14 rugby. He made his All Blacks debut in 2000 against Tonga and has since played 60 games for the All Blacks, playing 59 Tests are scoring 43 tries. He is just four tries short of breaking Christian Cullen?s all-time All Blacks Test try-scoring record and will be a potent addition to Munster's backline.

At Super 14 level, Howlett became the seventh New Zealand player to reach 100 Super 14 games. His six tries in the 2007 competition set a new record for the most Super 14 tries, with 59. He has played 58 games for Auckland and has scored 50 tries.

Howlett will begin his contract on 1 January 2008 by which time four rounds of this season's competition will have been completed.

Career overview since 1997 ?

104 Super 14 caps - 99 for the Blues (59 tries)

58 provincial caps (50 tries)

59 test caps (43 tries ? prior to Rugby World Cup)