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**truebluefan** · 08-09-2008, 12:42 PM

Reds bolster pack for 2009 Super 14

The Reds have bolstered their pack with a hit-headed lock from Sydney who had a dust up with Wallaby front rower Matt Dunning earlier this season.

The sigining is aimed at going some way towards filling the gap that has been created after the retirement of former Reds captain John Roe.

Adam Byrnes, 27, has signed a two year deal and will go to work for them almost immediately as he will fly out with the Reds development squad on their their four-game tour of Ireland and France later this month.

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**truebluefan** · 08-09-2008, 12:44 PM

The HSBC Waratahs could feature international players as early as next season after the Australian Rugby Union announced today that the ARU Board will be asked next month to endorse the use of overseas players in the Super 14.

The NSW Rugby Union is backing the ARU's move with Waratahs Head Coach Chris Hickey confident the process will be handled correctly.

"The ARU is developing checks and balances to ensure we're not taking positions away from Australian players, rather using the system as a way to further progress the development of our elite up-and-coming players," said Hickey.

"That's what the ARU and NSWRU will be looking to ensure, that there is a succession plan, not just to bring marquee players in at the expense of local players and young players."

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**truebluefan** · 08-09-2008, 12:45 PM

Guinness Premiership Bath boss Steve Meehan believes that it is "quite possible" that northern hemisphere players could be tempted to play in the Super 14 for Australian teams.

The ARU has in principle agreed to a new rule that would allow two foreign players in each of the four Australian Super 14 franchises - Western Force, Reds, Brumbies and the Waratahs.

If the ruling goes through formally foreign players could be playing in the Super 14 as soon as 2009.

The theory behind the idea is that this would make the Super 14 more exciting and would go some way to stemming the current flow of Southern Hemisphere players to the Northern Hemisphere.

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