Rochdale sign World Cup stand-off

Rochdale have pulled off a major coup by signing Fiji World Cup half-back Ryan Millard.

Millard, 26, is the brother of Catalan centre Daryl Millard, and has a playing CV that includes the likes of St George Illawarra and Canterbury.

For the Hornets to secure the signing of the fourth best average metre gain player in the World Cup speaks volumes of the club’s ambition, according to chief executive Ryan Bradley.

“From the moment we sat down with the interested Fijian World Cup players, Ryan was the player we were really keen on,” said Bradley.

“Tol [head coach Ian Talbot] rates him very highly, as does his colleague Nathan Brown at Saints, and when a few of our officials went to watch him in Hull [against England] he was fantastic.

“We have had some competition along the way from teams in our division and Super League, but the persisitence of all at Hornets played their part.”

In 2009, the year Millard made his Fiji debut, he was voted Australian Fiji Bati Player of the year.