New Red Braid leads 'foreign invasion'
Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:07
Award winner: Daniel Braid goes from blue to red
All Blacks and Auckland flank Daniel Braid became the first foreign international to join an Australian Super 14 rugby team when he signed a two-year deal on Sunday to play for the Reds.
Braid crosses the Tasman as one of the first major signings since Australia relaxed the eligibility rules for their Super 14 squads, allowing foreign players to be involved.
"This has been the toughest decision I’ve had to make in my rugby career," said Braid.
"I've been with Auckland for eight years and the Blues for six and this is my home. However, I also wanted to experience something new in rugby and to me this is the best of both worlds. I still get to play in this competition but in a different environment with some fresh new challenges."
Braid's decision is a clear signal that he won't be on the end of year tour with the All Blacks certain to look at younger options as the backup to skipper and openside flank Richie McCaw.
Braid,27, has been on the New Zealand first-class scene since the start of the decade, making his provincial debut for Auckland in 2001.
He has played more than 78 games for Auckland and 59 matches for the Blues in the Super 14.
He was first selected for the All Blacks in 2002, the same year he played for the New Zealand Under-21 team, and was picked in the 2003 Rugby World Cup squad the following year.
The New Zealand Player of the Year in 2007, Braid also played for New Zealand Maori and the Junior All Blacks and was called into the All Blacks this year, playing against Australia in Sydney.
New Zealand Rugby Union General Manager of Professional Rugby Neil Sorensen said it was disappointing to lose Braid.
"He is a valued player and we put a lot of work into what we thought was an attractive and flexible package for Daniel but he has opted to head to Australia so we are disappointed to see him go," he said.
Braid has had limited opportunities in a position dominated by champion flank and All Black captain Richie McCaw.
Braid was recalled to the All Blacks this year for the Sydney Test against the Wallabies when McCaw was ruled out with an ankle injury, but again made way for McCaw when he regained fitness.
Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) performance rugby manager Ben Whitaker said signing a player of Braid's experience and ability was a coup for the Reds, who had been left short of a seasoned open side flank for next season after David Croft's unexpected retirement.
The four-Test capped Braid said: "It is exciting to be the first to take advantage of the new regulations in Australia. It is also exciting to see the opportunities for professional rugby players growing as the game evolves globally."
Australian Rugby Union (ARU) high performance general manager David Nucifora said Braid's recruitment would prove invaluable for the Reds.
"The quality of Daniel as a player and a person will be invaluable to the Reds, who needed to fix a problem in terms of depth and experience at openside flanker," Nucifora said.
The ARU now allows each of the four Australian provinces to sign one "marquee" foreign player, an international who can never qualify for Australian selection because he has already represented another country at Test, A-team or Sevens level.
