Rugby: Braid targets UK deal

Daniel Braid could move to another Super 14 side in Australia or New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images

A return to New Zealand is one option, as is staying in Australia, but Daniel Braid hopes to play his rugby in the UK when Super 14 finishes.

The former All Black, one of the form opensides this year as a result of law interpretations, will have to leave the Reds after this campaign.

Braid was signed in 2008 and despite the Reds asking for an extension, the Australian Rugby Union is refusing to budge on its stance that marquee players stay with one franchise for no more than two seasons.

His preference is to sign with a UK club but finding one offering the right deal is proving hard. There are restrictions on the number of overseas players European clubs can sign and there is a reluctance on their part to offer one of those treasured places to specialist opensides.

Most clubs prefer to sign foreign players who can fill more than one position which is why Wallaby stalwart Phil Waugh couldn't find a British club last year and why it is believed even George Smith is finding it hard to win a place somewhere.

The last high-profile, specialist openside to secure a deal as a foreign player was Marty Holah, who joined the Ospreys in 2006.

Braid signed a deal last year with the Llanelli Scarletts but the Welsh club terminated it on medical grounds when the flanker tore an Achilles and was ruled out for nine months. When that three-year deal fell through, Braid returned to the Reds, who had the option to keep him for another year.

Such has been Braid's influence at the Reds that coach Ewen McKenzie appealed to the ARU to rethink their rules on marquee players.

"Daniel identifies the important little things in how we prepare, and he's reinvented himself as a great link player under the new law interpretations. He's very good for us," said McKenzie.

But the ARU have ruled it out, as another condition of the marquee player concept is for teams to build a succession plan - effectively they have to use the big signing to mentor and develop a home grown younger talent to step up.

Braid will be able to join another Australian province, with the Melbourne Rebels believed to be interested.

A return to New Zealand is also possible, as several offers have been made.

The Blues would love Braid to come home, as they secured only Serge Lilo in the draft and there is a dearth of quality opensides in the region.

Under the new contracting model, the Blues will be able to offer Braid a contract up to a set value - likely between $150,000-$200,000. If Braid, who at 29 will be aware this is his last chance to earn big money, decides that's not enough, the Blues will need the New Zealand Rugby Union to top that up.

They will only do so if they believe Braid still has the potential to be an All Black and make a contribution beyond Super Rugby.

While the new rules certainly suit his continuity game and there has been widespread comment that Braid is the second-best New Zealand No 7 behind Richie McCaw, the All Black coaches might not necessarily see it that way.

They have invested time in Tanerau Latimer and, having capped him last year, they also see some potential in George Whitelock.

Braid won a solitary cap under Graham Henry when he was thrust into the starting team to play Australia in 2008 after a five-week lay-off. The All Blacks then proceeded to run the ball from everywhere with a crazy game plan that left Braid gasping for air and being substituted after 49 minutes.

It was an impossible mission for Braid and left an unfair memory of him being out of his depth.

If a deal can't be struck with a UK club, Braid will have to decide whether he has a realistic chance of cracking the All Blacks again or whether a bigger money deal in Australia is of more appeal.