New Zealand Rugby
Chiefs set to bag Cruden
ESPNscrum Staff
July 14, 2011

The Chiefs look set to confirm the signing of All Blacks fly-half Aaron Cruden this week ahead of the 2012 Super Rugby season.

Chiefs boss Gary Dawson has said he has verbal confirmation from the 22-year-old but is waiting on his signature before officially announcing the capture. "We've just got some work around finalising the contract to get completed to make it 100 per cent," Dawson said, talking to The Waikato Times."We're just working through that process at the moment."

Cruden, who was weighing up offers from both the Chiefs and the Hurricanes for 2012, has missed out on All Blacks selection for this year's Tri-Nations squad. Cruden will link up with a familiar face in new Chiefs coach Dave Rennie when he arrives at Waikato as the two previously worked together at Manawatu and the New Zealand Under 20 side.

The signing of the six-cap Kiwi will be a huge boost to the Chiefs as they face losing both of their stand-offs with Stephen Donald apparently journeying to the northern hemisphere to line up for Bath while Mike Delany also appears to be seeking pastures new. The Chiefs are also rumoured to be chasing All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams though that move appears to be a way off.

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