Chiefs recruiting in Brisbane

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 25: Wallabies coach Michael Cheika watches players warm up during the International Test match between the Australian Wallabies and England at Allianz Stadium on June 25, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says the Chiefs attempt at signing Australian based players is a clever ploy.

On the eve of the Hamilton side’s game with the Reds, they set up a practice session in Brisbane to observe players with New Zealand ties in the area.

Cheika said that it was up to Australian fraternities to keep their players and the Chiefs are completely within their rights to go shopping in the region.

“There’s a lot of challenges in that area, but that’s what it is and we’ve got to make sure that our best is good enough to keep the best players here in rugby, and we believe that we can do that,” Cheika told Radio Sport.

“That’s the way the game’s going – recruitment across professional sport is probably the number one priority. It’s a smart move by the Chiefs.”