Rugby: Cruden's Chiefs move confirmed

Aaron Cruden. Photo / Getty Images

Chiefs boss Gary Dawson has confirmed the recruitment of Hurricanes first five-eighth Aaron Cruden to the Super 15 rugby franchise for next season.

"We've just got some work around finalising the contract to get completed to make it 100 per cent," Dawson told the Waikato Times newspaper today.

"We're just working through that process at the moment."

Cruden, 22, had publicly said he was weighing offers from both the Chiefs and Hurricanes for 2012.

He has played six tests for the All Blacks but missed selection in this year's Tri-Nations squad.

His imminent signing is good news for the Chiefs because of the likely departure overseas of both Chiefs first-five incumbents Stephen Donald and Mike Delany.

New Chiefs coach Dave Rennie previously forged a working relationship with Cruden at Manawatu and with the New Zealand under-20 side, which Cruden captained.

- NZPA