Braid named best All Black

Auckland flanker Daniel Braid was named New Zealand’s rugby footballer of the year at the New Zealand Rugby Union awards on Thursday.

Braid was selected after an excellent season for the Super 14 semi-finalist Blues and the undefeated double winners.

The three-cap All Black’s selection comes four years after his last international appearance, in the 2003 World Cup, and was ahead of Rodney So’oialo, the only nomination among this year’s crop.

Braid’s Auckland claimed the Team of the Year prize, while Hawke’s Bay’s Peter Russell won the coaching prize.