Despite the early announcement of the deal Mauger said it won't distract him from his immediate goals.

"My immediate focus is the Super 14 and getting selected for the All Blacks again," said Mauger.  "It's good to have this deal done so I can focus on that challenge."

The 38-Test veteran said he expected his stint in England to be temporary rather than permanent.

"As a family we are looking forward to having an overseas experience and this is probably the only opportunity we will get due to the ages of our children, as we would like them to start school in New Zealand, although our eldest will have to do a half year in Leicester.

"I'd also love to finish my career with Canterbury and if I'm still playing well enough possibly have a crack at the 2011 World Cup."

All Blacks coach Graham Henry noted that Mauger had already played five years for the All Blacks and six at the Super 14 level. 

"Aaron has been a very important member of the All Blacks for the past five years," Henry said.

"He's a world class player and has also made a significant contribution as a leader both on and off the field. His decision making ability has been integral to the All Blacks success.

"The team wishes Aaron and family an exciting and successful time at Leicester and look forward to their return to make a further contribution to New Zealand rugby in 2010."

Mauger's most recent start for the All Blacks was against England last November, although a knee injury restricted him to just that first match of the 2006 European tour.  One of a group of All Blacks currently on a conditioning programme, he is expected to rejoin the Crusaders' Super 14 campaign in March.

* Meanwhile leading Canterbury and Crusaders rugby officials paid tribute to the contribution Mauger had made to both organisations, following the announcement of his season-ending move to the English club.

"The magnitude of his contribution is best summed up by all that he has been part of," Crusaders and Canterbury chief executive Hamish Riach said.

"Aaron has been involved in four Super rugby titles and two other finals from his seven seasons thus far as a Crusader. He has also shared in two New Zealand domestic titles with Canterbury, as well as being associated with winning the Ranfurly Shield twice. It is a very impressive legacy."

While Mauger leaves with the best wishes of the Canterbury and Crusaders public after this year's World Cup, Riach said it was a reflection of the mutual goodwill in the relationship that the 26-year-old was committed to returning to Canterbury and the Crusaders at a later date to see out his career.

"That intention, unofficial as it may be at this stage, in itself signifies both what Canterbury and the Crusaders mean to Aaron, and how highly we have valued his input over the years."

Mauger debuted for Canterbury as an 18-year-old against Counties Manukau in 1999.

He has since appeared 42 times for the province, and was captain in his most recent outing: last year's Air New Zealand Cup quarter-final against Wellington.

Less than a year after his Canterbury debut, Mauger was a Crusader, taking his Super rugby bow in 2000 against the Chiefs.

Seven years on, Mauger has 82 Crusaders appearances to his name, having shared in the title wins of 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2006, as well as featuring in the 2003 and 2004 finals.

He made his All Black debut in the same Test match as current Crusaders and All Black skipper Richard McCaw in 2001 against Ireland at Dublin, scoring his first try 54 minutes into his Test career. He subsequently led New Zealand against the Barbarians at Twickenham in 2004 and starts 2007 with 38 caps to his name.

Mauger's older brother Nathan was also an All Black on the 2001 tour, with the then Linwood club-based brothers following in the footsteps of their uncles, Canterbury All Blacks Stephen and Graeme Bachop, who had previously been the most recent All Black brothers.

The Mauger boys grew up and played all of their junior rugby in Lyttleton on the other side of the Port Hills from Christchurch.

Robbie Deans, who first introduced Mauger to both the Canterbury and Crusaders environments as well as being involved on the coaching staff when he first graced the All Blacks, says his impact has been such that he helped to change the expectation of his regular second-five-eighths position.

"Having Aaron at second-five-eighths [No.12] gives any team he plays for a second decision maker. He has always effectively played as a second, first-five-eighths [No.10], whether he was outside 'Mehrts' [Andrew Mehrtens], 'DC' [Daniel Carter] or any of the other players he has combined with.

"What that achieves is to double the decision making threat to any opposing defensive line, while also relieving a fair weight of the decision making pressure off the man inside him."

Deans acknowledged Mauger's dedication to the Canterbury and Crusaders cause over the years, adding that he was sorry to see him depart.

"Leicester is getting a very special player, and one who still has a lot to offer in his career. Hopefully he will add to all that he has achieved here with the Crusaders in the time before he departs," Deans said.

"I know the players, coaching staff and fans at the Leicester Tigers will quickly come to value Aaron as a player as much as we do at the Crusaders and with Canterbury."

The Crusaders' coaches' comments were echoed by Canterbury coach Rob Penney, who said Mauger had set the template on which future Canterbury inside backs would be modelled.

"There is nothing out on the field he can't do – from playing just about every position in the backline except halfback, which he has done at first class level, to goal-kicking," Penney said.

"From a coaches' perspective, players of the skills of Aaron are like gold. He is going to be a huge loss, but we wish him all the best for his future in England."

Mauger, his wife Amy, young son Felix, and soon to be born second child, follow in the footsteps of another fine former Canterbury and Crusaders servant, Daryl Gibson, in joining the Leicester Tigers.

Gibson has been vice-captain of the well performed English Premiership club, which is invariably at the forefront of both the Heineken Cup and Guinness Premiership competitions in the Northern Hemisphere.