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 year'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."
