Aviva Premiership Rugby Club Sale Sharks have revealed that former England flanker Hendrie Fourie has been forced to retire from playing rugby.

Sale Sharks boss Steve Diamond revealed Fourie's retirement while announcing that the club had signed former All Black Daniel Braid from the Blues in Auckland.

"Unfortunately, Hendre has had to retire. We got the final confirmation last week after taking medical advice.

"As a club we have backed Hendre 100 per cent in his battle to get fit but unfortunately, his shoulder has not recovered. His body has been battered so much that the shoulder won't recover.”

Flanker Daniel Braid will join Sale Sharks at the end of the current season from Auckland and has already been to the club to see where he will be playing.

Director of Rugby Steve Diamond said, " Dan joins us at a critical stage of our season. He is a hard working flanker who tackles well and reads the game well too. "

"He arrived in the UK on New Years Day and came to Carrington this morning to meet his new team mates. He is an important signing for us and I am sure he will fit in perfectly.”

On signing for Sale Sharks Dan said, "It's great to get the opportunity to come to Europe and play a different style of rugby and live a different lifestyle.

"I know Sam Tuitupou quite well. We played school age rugby together back in New Zealand and with Auckland and the Blues, so he's given me a few tips.

"And I also spoke to Luke McAlister who used to play for Sale Sharks and he was really complimentary about the club.

"When I knew I was coming here I went on-line and had a look at the squad and some of the names here such as Sam and Danny Cipriani " and to see where Sale are in the table was a bit of a shock.

"But there are still quite a few games to go and with the win against Worcester, hopefully it's a case of onwards and upwards.

Daniel Braid Born 13th February 1981
Height 1.86m
Weight 96kg
Blues Debut 2003 v Waratahs
Blues Record 85 appearances 7 tries
All Black Caps 4
New Zealand Player Of The Year 2007
Member of the rare father and son All Black Club (Father played for All Blacks In 1983)