New Zealand rugby boss Steve Tew has admitted Daniel Braid's poaching by Australian rugby remains a touchy subject, and one that could have an impact on tender negotiations over the expansion of Super rugby.

Tew told Radio Sport that the signing of Braid by the Queensland Reds - the first major raid on New Zealand talent across the Tasman since new rules were introduced by the ARU to allow marquee overseas imports - had taken the New Zealand union by surprise.

They've long been fighting a losing battle to retain New Zealand talent in the face of the money being offered by clubs in the UK, France and Japan, but now it seems Australia is also entering the fray.

"Certainly our eyebrows have been raised and words have been spoken with our counterparts in Australia about Daniel Braid," Tew told Radio Sport.

Key Sanzar officials meet in Sydney on Wednesday when, among other things, Super rugby expansion will be discussed.

"It might well have an effect on how we look at expansion," added Tew in reference to plans to add a 15th team as part of a new reformatted Super rugby competition.

Australia are keen to have a fifth team but that move is dependent on all three countries - Australia, New Zealand and South Africa - agreeing on that under Sanzar rules.

Tew said there was "no difference" in losing players to Australia or to northern hemisphere clubs. "Once we've lost them, we've lost them," he added.

"We didn't want to lose Daniel, but as a counter to that Josh Blackie is coming back."

Blackie has been snapped up by the Blues to fill the void left by Braid's departure, with the former Otago and Highlanders star No 7 due to join the Auckland franchise once he finishes his commitments in Japan some time in February next year.

Tew said the Blackie situation was part of a landscape that was not all doom and gloom on the player drain front.

"One of the things we've learnt over the last two or three years is as guys go away at a bit of a younger age they are prepared to come back and contribute," he said.

"There is a little bit of swings and roundabouts, but at the moment there's far too much on the swing, and not enough coming back."

The Braid situation, and potential further moves across the Tasman, also raised the question of All Blacks eligibility.

Under strict regulations concerning New Zealand player availability, Braid is regarded the same as someone who has gone to play in the north. That is, he is not able to be selected for the All Blacks.

But there are many who believe a New Zealander still competing in the Super 14, even if for an Australian or South African side, should be eligible for All Black selection.

Tew said the eligibility question won't be revisited until the future structure of the Sanzar competitions are confirmed

"That's one option, and there are some arguments in favour of that," he said in terms of a player like Braid still being available for the All Blacks. "... but I'm not sure our fans would be too enthralled about having a whole host of Kiwi-eligible All Blacks playing for the Waratahs and Bulls. We've got to balance that out."

Tew said all there was some light at the end of the tunnel, and highlighted the recent re-signings of Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Joe Rokocoko, as well as second-tier prospects such as Anthony Tuitavake, Jason Eaton, and the Waldrom brothers as an indication some were prepared to stay put.

He also hinted at some big names coming home sooner rather than later.

"We've had talks with two or three overseas players quite keen to come back and play in the next Super 14, but they just aren't able to get out of current commitments. But they'll be back in due course," he said.

The NZRU chief executive also confirmed the desire go expand to a Super 15, with conferences, for 2010, with the extra team to go into the Australian conference.

"That might be an Australian side, it might not," said Tew. "It could be a Pacific Islands side, it could be a US side or it could be a Japanese one.

"We've got to go through that process. But rather than saying it's an Australian team, we're saying let's see what Sanzar requires, let's see who's out there and Sanzar can make a decision about the fifth team."

ARU boss John O'Neill has already come out and said Japan might now be the best bet given the current global economic situation.

Tew said the decision would be made "with an eye to the future" but at this stage was still a work in progress. He added that discussions with the "critical paymaster", aka the broadcaster, would also be vital because any growth in Super rugby would have to stack up in financial terms.

Tew also confirmed that the recent economic crisis, and resultant drop in the Kiwi dollar against the US, had at least had a positive spinoff for the NZRU in terms of its significant income from offshore.

"We've managed to lock in our exchange rates for quite a long period of time and that gives us some stability from a budget point of view and a little bit of a cash windfall for 2008."

On the other side of the coin, the effect of the global economic meltdown would likely be felt by rugby as it was all businesses in New Zealand.

This could range from sponsorships, and a likely tightening of the belts from key companies, to major deals like the broadcasting agreement which expires at the end of 2010.