CLYDE JOINS BRUMBIES

Brad Clyde has joined his former Australian rugby league Test team-mates Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers in defecting to rugby union.

But unlike Wallaby hopefuls Rogers and Sailor, Clyde has joined the coaching staff, rather than the playing ranks, of Super 12 champion ACT Brumbies.

He takes over as the Brumbies` defensive coach from his former Canberra Raiders team-mate David Barnhill.

The 31-year-old former Canberra, Bulldogs and Leeds Rhinos forward admitted he knew little about the intricacies of the rival rugby code and said his experience playing the game did not extend past the school yard.

"My background is obviously rugby league and I don`t know too many of the finer points of rugby union to tell the truth," Clyde said today.

"But the defensive systems within the two games are very similar and I think that`s why the Brumbies showed some interest in myself."

Clyde said rugby`s defensive game had evolved dramatically over the past five years, making it comparable with league.

"There`s a lot of one-on-one tackles and the rule changes that have happened within rugby union circles have lent itself to being very similar defensively to rugby league," he said.

Brumbies coach David Nucifora rated Clyde a fearless defender and said his players would benefit from his experience.

"Brad`s technical expertise in this area, coupled with his attacking prowess in breaking down opposition defences, will be utilised by us," Nucifora said.

Clyde said the Brumbies approached him to join their ranks two weeks ago and he will juggle the part-time job with a marketing role with the Bulldogs.

Clyde`s former Raiders and Bulldogs team-mate Ricky Stuart has made the step up to first grade coach of the Sydney Roosters while former Canberra five-eighth Laurie Daley is a backs coach with the Raiders.

But Clyde said he had desire to take up a fulltime coaching role.

"I feel as though the coaches have far too much pressure put on them," he said.

"I`m more than happy to keep my hands on but not really be a head coach.

"I hated training for 14 years, why put myself through it all again?"

The veteran of 18 Tests for Australia and 12 State of Origin appearances for NSW ended his career as a player three months ago when Leeds plummeted out of the Super League finals series.