Former Highlanders and New Zealand Maori rugby midfielder Ryan Nicholas is poised to join the Queensland Reds for next year's Super 14 competition.
Nicholas, who has played the past two seasons in Japan, had agreed to terms with Queensland but was still to sign on the dotted line, said new
Reds coach Eddie Jones.
"He's big and strong and can get through a tackle," former Wallabies coach Jones told The Australian newspaper.
"New South Wales put in quite a substantial offer for him a couple of years ago but he decided to go to Japan instead.
"But at 27, his best football could still be in front of him."
Jones coached Nicholas at Japanese club Suntory and said Nicholas' utility value would make him crucial backline cover.
Nicholas satisfies the Australian Rugby Union's criteria for playing for one of their Super 14 franchises because he is Australian-born.
He burst to prominence in New Zealand rugby in 2002 when he was leading try scorer for the Highlanders.
He made his first class debut for Otago in 1998, and played 31 Super 12 matches for the Highlanders and eight matches for New Zealand Maori from 2002-04.
Meanwhile, Jones denied reports linking him with the prestigious director of rugby position at England's Rugby Football Union.
The Guardian newspaper rated Jones, axed late last year as Wallabies coach, an unofficial 3-1 favourite for the job.
"If someone gave me a million dollars I wouldn't be backing myself (for the job)," he said today.
- NZPA
