Cannon signs for new Super14 team Perth

AUSTRALIA hooker Brendan Cannon has become the first player to join new Super 14 team Perth after agreeing a two-year contract with Rugby WA.

Cannon, who has 33 Test caps, will relocate to Perth in the autumn for pre-season training ahead of the new campaign, which sees the current Super 12 competition expanded by two teams.

The 32-year-old, who currently stars for the Super 12 leaders NSW Waratahs, admitted the chance to be a part of a new and exciting development in Australian rugby was a challenge he could not turn down.

“The comfortable decision would have been to stay in NSW,” said Cannon, who has made 80 Super 12 appearances.

“The challenging option is the unique opportunity to be a founding member of the WA team in a key leadership role.

“To be a foundation member of this team, in a fantastic city like Perth, is an opportunity that was just too good to refuse. Having said that, it was a big decision to leave the Waratahs.”

Perth will be Australia’s fourth team in the expanded Super 14 format.