Braid leaving NZ rugby for Queensland

[Flamethrower]

Braid leaving NZ rugby for Queensland
RugbyHeaven | Sunday, 05 October 2008
Braid leaving NZ rugby for Queensland - New Zealand's source for sport, rugby, cricket & league news on Stuff.co.nz

All Blacks and Auckland flanker Daniel Braid has confirmed he is leaving New Zealand rugby, taking up a two-year deal with the Queensland Reds that will start with next season's Super 14.

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 challenge."

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 flanker Richie McCaw.

The 27-year-old Braid 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 Rebel Sport 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.

Auckland Rugby and Blues CEO Andy Dalton says Braid’s leadership, experience and rugby talent will be missed from both camps and thanked the highly experienced flanker for his outstanding contribution to Auckland Rugby and the Blues franchise.

“Daniel is an inspirational player and leader both on and off the field. He will be a big loss to us but we understand his reasons for heading offshore and farewell him with sincere best wishes,” said Dalton.

[Flamethrower]

Braid comfortable with Reds signing
By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE - RugbyHeaven | Monday, 06 October 2008
Braid comfortable with Reds signing - New Zealand's source for sport, rugby, cricket & league news on Stuff.co.nz

Daniel Braid says he's comfortable with being Australia's first "marquee" signing after negotiating a two-year option with the Queensland Reds, starting with next season's Super 14.

The specialist openside flanker heads across the Tasman after lengthy service to Auckland, the Blues and also four test caps with the All Blacks, including his recall this year when he played the Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney.

With Australia relaxing their eligibility rules to allow one "marquee" foreign signing into each of their four Super 14 sides, Braid has the honour of being first on board.

He believes he can live up to the pressure as the Reds look to lift themselves back into playoffs contention after several poor seasons.

"I'm comfortable with that. I've been a leader in these sides at the Blues and Auckland," the 27-year-old said.

The Reds have lost their experienced No 7 David Croft and see Braid as their answer for the meantime.

Braid said he had not discussed his shift with the All Blacks selectors. But his decision effectively takes him out of contention for the end of year tour, opening the way for young loose forwards like Tanierau Latimer, Liam Messam and Kieran Read to come into calculations.

Braid resisted the temptation to head north, saying he was keen to stay in the Super 14 next year. But he will be able to reassess things after his initial stint with the Reds.

"To be able to go overseas and stay and play in the Super 14 which is a competition that I really like ... it was a real lifestyle option for me an my partner," said Braid.

"The package from the Reds was good and we thought it was the best opportunity for us. I've made it public for a while that I wanted to go overseas with my partner and this gives us that opportunity. I can play the Super 14 and then I have a lot of options."

Braid admitted it would be "very tough" playing against his old Blues team mates next year. The Reds will host the Blues in a preseason fixture and then come to Auckland for the championship match.

He was hoping for big things at the Reds who certainly appear to be on the right track with young coach Phil Mooney making progress following the disappointing short reign of Eddie Jones.

"They are a young up and coming side. I'm looking forward to being a leader there and helping them."

He admitted this season had been frustrating for him with injuries plaguing him after he was named the New Zealand Player of the year in 2007.

"Coming back from shoulder surgery and then getting the calf injury a week before Richie (McCaw) sprained an ankle badly ... that's been frustrating.

"But I got another test match and I was bale to help out some young guys coming through Auckland. I also played against my little brother (Luke)."

He injured an ankle in that match against Bay of Plenty and has been sidelined since then, enduring Auckland's Ranfurly Shield loss from the sidelines and their painful defence of the national title that finally ended at Eden Park on Sunday when they lost to Northland and missed out on the playoffs.

"That is very disappointing. I feel for the guys. We had high hopes about going into the playoffs and I was hoping I would be right for that. But these things happen ... it's really contrasting to last year."

He didn't rule out a possible return to New Zealand.

"Who knows what changes will happen to the Super 14 over the next few years? You never say never and I wouldn't write off coming back to play in New Zealand towards the end of my career. I'd love to."

[TOCC]

he actually signed a 1yr contract with the option for a second

I think a big thing for him in signing with the Reds was that he would be allowed to leave after the S14 season, whereas in NZ he would have being required to stay up until the end of the NPC. This gives him the chance to go to Europe earlier and earn quite a bit more money.

[jargan83]

possible that we may see a few more Kiwis doing this? Come play Super 14 in Oz, then piss off to Europe alot earlier then what they could in NZ??
Posted via Mobile Device

[shasta]

He's on a two year deal right? So he'd still need permission from the QRU to miss 2010 pre-season training to play in Europe between seasons?

[TOCC]

He's on a two year deal right? So he'd still need permission from the QRU to miss 2010 pre-season training to play in Europe between seasons?

like i said in the post just before, he is on a 1yr contract with a option for a second, but it sounds like he signed it with the intention to go to Europe straight after the 2009 S14 season.

He may have had the 2nd year option added in the hope that NZRU alter there rules and pick him for the All Blacks, highly unlikely though.

If he does remain for the 2010 season, then it may be possibly that the QRU let him play in Europe during the off-season since he wont have any wallaby commitments.

[laura]

Kiwi signing will benefit Aussies: Smith
AAP - October 6, 2008, 6:14 pm

The Wallabies champion openside flanker George Smith has lauded Queensland's historic signing of his All Blacks counterpart Daniel Braid, declaring it could only benefit Australian rugby.

New Zealander Braid on Sunday became the first overseas-born marquee player signed under the ARU's new foreign player policy, which allows the four provinces to sign an international, who is ineligible for Australian selection.

Braid, New Zealand's 2007 Super 14 player of the year and regular backup to All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw, will replace retired Queensland openside stalwart David Croft.

"He (Braid) can only benefit Australian rugby," Smith said at the Sydney hotel base for the Wallabies' second pre-spring tour camp.

"He's played for the All Blacks and at Super 14 level very regularly for the past few years and his experience will definitely be valuable for the Queensland Reds."

"It was a surprise to me, but it's great to hear.

"He'll be able to pass his intellectual property to the Reds players."

Smith's Wallabies and Brumbies forward colleague Mark Chisholm said he had mixed emotions about Braid signing for Queensland.

"I'd like to see the young Australians get a chance at proving themselves at Super 14," Chisholm said.

"But say if for example with Queensland, David Croft is such a high standard player, and there's a really big gap with him leaving their side and Daniel Braid is a great player.

"I'm sure the Kiwi style of rugby would help the Reds out a fair bit, but in saying that, I'd also like to see the young blokes coming through club rugby get a chance.

"I guess the way football is going now, if you've got to compete professionally and you've got to get your record up there as a Super 14 contender, I guess you'll be looking at any way you can."

With the Reds unable to lure Queensland products and Wallabies squad members Richard Brown and David Pocock back home and youngster Tasi Luafutu still learning his craft, they opted to go offshore to replace long serving Croft.

Reds coach Phil Mooney rejected the suggestion Braid's signing would in any way stunt the development of a youngster like Luafutu.

"Not at all and the ARU have got some pretty definite guidelines," Mooney said.

"Number one, we always planned to have Crofty. We were caught unawares when he retired.

"We brought Tasi along at stages this year.

"The reality is there was no one of a frontline Super 14 standard.

"I see some real benefits in that Daniel can pass on his knowledge to young guys in our squad and academy.

"All of our guys are excited that he's signed with us as they have played against him and rate him very highly."

Smith said youngsters like Pocock were bringing enthusiasm into the Wallabies camp and he predicted a bright future for the Force star.

"He's definitely got the ability and he's shown that throughout the Super 14 in the past two seasons," Smith said of Pocock.

"It's good to see he's getting the training and experience at this level and there's bigger and better things ahead for David Pocock."


Kiwi signing will benefit Aussies: Smith Australian Sport - Yahoo!7 Sport