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David Long | June 28, 2009
AUSTRALIA'S Super 14 teams are set to join a huge bidding war to sign IRB Under-20 Player of the Year, Aaron Cruden.
Cruden is on the books of New Zealand province Manawatu but his days with the Turbos appear numbered, especially if they are dumped in the second tier of provincial rugby along with three other unions.
Not only are Auckland and the other big NZ provinces after Cruden, but his agent Bruce Sharrock also revealed to NZ's Sunday News that there is interest from Australia's Super 14 sides, which could in turn lead to him playing for the Wallabies rather than the All Blacks.
"The real threat to New Zealand rugby at the moment, I believe, is from our neighbours," Sharrock warned. "There is nothing to stop any of those young men from going to Australia.
"I was approached by all but one of the Australian franchises about all under-20 players prior to them leaving. So they're … looking to recruit."
The Australian Rugby Union has changed its laws to allow their Super 14 sides to recruit one marquee overseas player plus one young overseas player who, it is hoped, will play for the Wallabies one day.
Already there are a large number of New Zealand-born players in Australia's Super 14 teams. This year, there were three at the Brumbies, one at the Waratahs, eight at the Reds, and five at the Force.
Daniel Braid went to the Reds this season under the marquee ruling and the team have set their sights on grabbing the cream of the NZ side that won the Junior World Cup in Japan last weekend.
But it would be a step further than Australia have ever taken to grab a player such as Cruden from the other side of the Tasman and put him eventually into a Wallabies' jersey. IRB rules are powerless to stop Australian raids.
"It's not until you play sevens for the Junior All Blacks or the national side that you're captured for eligibility," Sharrock said. "There is definitely a changing landscape … But it's all good for a guy like Aaron, in that he can continue with what he's doing and I'm sure he won't be short of options."
However, New Zealand provinces wouldn't let Cruden go without a fight and with the lack of depth at first-five in the country, a player of Cruden's quality would make him a must-have for every province other than Canterbury, who have Dan Carter, Stephen Brett and Colin Slade.
Sharrock said there was plenty of interest in Cruden before the Junior World Cup and it has only got bigger since he captained them to glory and took out the IRB honour.
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...961446868.html
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