Reds sign All Black Braid
By AAP, 6 Oct 2008 AAP is a Roar Pro
All Blacks flanker Daniel Braid today became the first overseas international signed by an Australian Super Rugby team under the new Foreign Player Policy.
He will prove an invaluable asset to Queensland next year, according to the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) High Performance General Manager David Nucifora.
Braid has been recruited by the Reds for next season’s Super 14 following the sudden retirement of long-serving former Wallabies flanker David Croft.
A backrower who played against Australia in the Sydney Bledisloe Cup Test this year, Braid’s signing by Queensland was only made possible by the relaxation of the ARU’s Foreign Player Policy early last month.
“This case highlights just how important the decision was to allow the states to contract overseas players” Nucifora said.
“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.
“Daniel is a world-class player who can help bring through the younger talent emerging in the backrow at Queensland.
“He was the New Zealand Super 14 Player of the Year in 2007 and has consistently been the back-up No.7 to Richie McCaw with the All Blacks.”
The ARU Board last month accepted a management recommendation to lift the ban that previously prevented teams from contracting any player ineligible for Qantas Wallabies selection.
There were, however, conditions attached to the relaxation of the Foreign Player Policy.
Each of the four Australian provinces is permitted to sign only one marquee foreigner — an international who can never qualify for Australian selection because he has already represented another country at Test, A-team or Sevens level.
The provinces are also able to contract a second developing foreign player who has yet to represent another country and could qualify for the Wallabies after three years of consecutive residency.
Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) Performance Rugby Manager Ben Whitaker said signing a player of Braid’s experience and ability was a real coup for the Reds.
“We have some very talented flankers like Poutasi Luafutu recently come into the squad and others on the development pathway, but Daniel will give us the depth and experience we need in that position and help promote competition within the squad,” Whitaker said.
“Open side flankers with Daniel’s outstanding skill and professional experience simply aren’t currently available in Australia, so this allows us to fill the gap left by Crofty’s unexpected departure until our development program catches up.”
Braid said: “I am excited about the opportunity of playing Super 14 out of Queensland, the timing, the place and the team all contributed to my decision.
“It is also exciting to see the opportunities for professional rugby players growing as the game evolves globally.”
Braid has 59 Super Rugby caps for the Blues.
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AllBlackfan said | October 6th 2008 @ 11:33am | Report comment
Just how bad a state is Qld rugby in that they have to resort to signing up an All Black? (their second kiwi signing in as many months)!!
Qld is rapidly turning into a sixth NZ S14 provincial side — Braid, Cooper, Turinui, Taylor, etc.
(I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Daniel Braid turns out to be their best player next season.)
It’s bad enough that the NZ rugby is being targeted by European clubs; now Australian sides want to join in!!
One bad turn deserves another, I always say — you poach our players (and coaches); we (NZ) pull out of the S14 and go our own way. What say?
Jerry said | October 6th 2008 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
Braid’s not a bad player and will improve the Reds ball winning and linking ability, but to say he’s “consistently been the back-up No.7 to Richie McCaw with the All Blacks” is just taking liberties with the truth. He was briefly the backup in 02/03 and was recalled this year, but only when it became clear that So’oialo or Thompson wasn’t up to it (not to mention Marty Holah being in Wales and Chris Masoe having lost a lot of form).
AllBlackfan said | October 6th 2008 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
Yeah, well that’s the media for you.
They’re trying to make it sound like a) the Reds have made THE Signing of the year, and b) that this is a very good thing for Aussie rugby.
The media has already been linking Dan Carter with the Waratahs (like that WILL happen!). Who next? Richie McCaw for the Brumbies?
All these stories remind me of that old adage about clinches and straws.
If SA pulls out of the S14, these deals wil be worth the same as a Bulldogs contract!!
Jerry said | October 6th 2008 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
Yeah, I didn’t really think the likes of Daniel Braid were what people were envisaging when the ARU announced the marquee player exception. There was talk of the likes of O’Driscoll or Cipriani, not a journeyman S14 forward. I wonder if anyone checked if Paul Tito was off contract?
There’s about as much chance of the NZRU pulling out of the S14 as there is of Buck being brought back. They need the revenue too much and, with the Air NZ cup having been reduced to a developmental role for up and comers, it’s also more important in terms of showing whether a player is a test prospect.
Jerry said | October 6th 2008 @ 1:45pm | Report comment
Whoops – thought you said NZ, not SA. Ignore the last sentence then.
I still don’t think SARU will pull out. There’s a fair few problems with playing in the NH competions – I don’t think the unions & clubs involved will really want to commit to the travel involved in having to go to SA for matches for starters.
hayden said | October 6th 2008 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
Braid might come across as a journeyman next to McCaw [ who doesn't? ], but outside of George Smith, who is a legend of the game, Braid will be the best No 7 in Aus rugby. Injury and timing have blighted his career. All the best to him.
Jerry said | October 6th 2008 @ 1:54pm | Report comment
It’s hard to say, really. Braid is decent, but Pocock could well be better than him next year.
AllBlackfan said | October 6th 2008 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
I think NZ’s plight is just as desperate as the ARU’s — it’s by far the smallest of the top Eight mjaor rugby powers (or SANZAR) countries.
New Zealand CANNOT afford to lose players offshore, whether it’s across the ditch or to the other side of the world.
The S14 in its current format is no longer an solution for NZ — either it much change drastically or it must be replaced.
Braid’s “defection” to Qld is hard to take because he’s a current All Black — he says it’s a lifestyle thing, which is true (can’t imaging Qld paying him mega bucks).
But if this trend continues, NZ will be better served ditching the S14 because all it’s top players will be playing offshore anyway. If these players won’t play for a NZ side, what’s the point of taking part in such a competition. Best to shore up your own defences.
NZ is in the same boat as the other Island unions exept for one big point: NZ produces world class players. If these interprovincial player movements heat up, NZ sides COULD end up being the perpetual wooden spooners of the competition.
Not because their rugby is bad but because the country’s rugby economy is too small to keep their players!
ohtani's jacket said | October 6th 2008 @ 4:17pm | Report comment
There’s only so much rugby that a guy like Braid can play in New Zealand before he gets frustrated at not being a proper All Black. Can’t blame the guy for going overshore if he’s offered more money.
van der Merwe said | October 6th 2008 @ 5:40pm | Report comment
“NZ is in the same boat as the other Island unions exept for one big point: NZ produces world class players.”
No, no, let me correct you, NZ poaches from the Island Union’s boat. There is no denying this, and I’m afraid the chickens are finally coming home to roost.
It was a lovely gesture playing Samoa C the other day, though.