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Connor Braid’s work on Rugby Canada’s November tour has drawn the notice of international rugby scouts.

The 25 year old utility back has signed on with the Worcester Warriors of the Aviva Premiership, the club confirmed on Tuesday. BC Rugby News first reported the news late last week via Phil Meyer, from Braid’s Victoria club James Bay.

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Worcester is calling it a “short-term” signing, though the contract runs through the end of the season.

Head coach Carl Hogg told the BBC: “With the recent injuries to Ryan Lamb and Tom Heathcote, we’re delighted Connor is able to come in and bolster the side in the number 10 position.”

Braid has started Canada’s last two games at fly half, after not having played for the national squad in over a year. He’s played previously in the UK for the Glasgow Warriors, Doncaster Knights and London Scottish.

He broke his jaw in October 2015 at the Rugby World Cup, in a match vs. Italy. The injury saw him take time away from rugby for the first time in nearly three years. He told The Province he realized how much he’d needed a rest only then, when he couldn’t play at all. He began a career in commercial real estate and was feeling good about life.

But the return to high level rugby has re-ignited his passion for the game, he said.

“Refreshed and in a better head space,” he said on Tuesday from France, where he’s preparing to play one more time for Canada vs. Samoa on Friday. “I needed to step away to appreciate it more and realize some other goals I had set for myself.”

Braid will join Worcester after Friday’s match.

pjohnston@postmedia.com

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