Reds snap up Braid
6 Oct 2008
All Blacks flanker Daniel Braid became the first overseas player signed by an Australian Super Rugby side under the new foreign player policy.
Braid signed for the Queensland Reds for next season’s Super 14 after the retirement of long-serving former Wallabies flanker David Croft at the end of this year’s campaign.
According to Australian Rugby Union high performance general manager David Nucifora, the former Auckland Blues man will prove to be an invaluable asset to the Reds next year.
“This case highlights just how important the decision was to allow the states to contract overseas players,” said Nucifora.
“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 move comes after the ARU board last month accepted a management request to lift the ban that previously prevented teams from contracting any player ineligible for the Wallabies.
Braid represents the Reds’ one marquee player – an international who can never qualify for Australian selection. Sides are able to contract a second developing foreign player who has yet to represent his country and would qualify to play for Australia after three years of residency.
14 Comments
6 Oct 2008, 07:59 am
Mercenary dragons.
6 Oct 2008, 07:59 am
Good move for this dragon (see how i managed to work it in). He has no all black future after the Sydney game, so must start chasing the money.
6 Oct 2008, 08:00 am
# WP Till I Die: dammit, jou wetter
6 Oct 2008, 08:00 am
#3 Cheetha Champs:
6 Oct 2008, 08:04 am
#2 Cheetha Champs:
6 Oct 2008, 08:20 am
#2 Cheetha Champs: Stadige draak….also gives him the opportunity to play in Japan in the off season.
6 Oct 2008, 08:21 am
Maybe braid decides to join the wallabies, is that allowed or has the rules been changed
6 Oct 2008, 08:56 am
#7 Wezwp: He cant. Once you have represented one nation, you cannot represent another.
6 Oct 2008, 09:03 am
Just watch those Aussies coming here to SA to sign up our players.
6 Oct 2008, 09:28 am
australians are the first to do this, moving into the professional stakes before the others, dunno if its good or bad, but Daniel Braid is an excellent buy. has croft retired?
6 Oct 2008, 09:40 am
#9 Puma: I dont think we should flatter ourselves that they (Aussies) are going to come here and buy every second player. Each union can buy two players (if i remember correctly) which means that there are 8 players that can be bought for the S14.
The first of those is a Kiwi. I reckon there will be at least three more Kiwis to follow. That leaves 4 more players that can be bought. If they were smart, they would go buy a massive English or French prop – which basically leaves one or two players from SA that might move. The aussie thing will not affect us.
#10 cab: Croft has retired (as stated in the article)
6 Oct 2008, 11:06 am
#11 Cheetha Champs:
oh right. thanks
6 Oct 2008, 11:22 am
its amazing how shokcing their weakness at front row is.
6 Oct 2008, 14:24 pm
#13 greatest13gerber:
and yet we can pull the shorts down and give your guys a stiff rogering!!
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