Stephen Brett will be playing for the Blues in next year's Super 14 after being snapped up in the draft by coach Pat Lam.

With New Zealand star Daniel Carter returning from his French sabbatical, the 23-year-old was keen to move to a franchise where he could get regular game-time in the number 10 jersey.

The Blues, who were looking for a playmaker following the departures of Jimmy Gopperth and Tasesa Lavea, were the obvious choice.

Brett, who has played for the Crusaders since 2006, had been looking to transfer from his Canterbury province to Auckland in order to become automatically eligible for the Blues, but when Canterbury refused to let him out of his contract early it seemed his path was blocked.

However, Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder opted against naming him in his group of 24 protected players, allowing the Blues to get their man via the draft.

Lam also picked up Wellington fly-half Daniel Kirkpatrick and loose forward Serge Lilo in the draft. Scrum-half Alby Mathewson also leaves the Hurricanes for the Blues.

As expected, IRB junior player of the year Aaron Cruden was named in the Hurricanes squad. He is one three players from Manawatu in the Hurricanes squad to be selected at Super 14 level for the first time. The others are wing Andre Taylor and loose forward Nick Crosswell.

Coach Colin Cooper also picked up lock James Broadhurst and Tyson Keats - as back-up to Piri Weepu at scrum-half - in the draft. The bulk of the squad, however, remains the same as the one that reached the semi-finals last year.

There are 13 All Blacks in the Crusaders squad, including Carter, Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn and Zac Guildford.

Former New Zealand lock Chris Jack returns after a stint playing for English Premiership club Saracens and a spell playing in South Africa.

Blackadder has gone to the draft to select Daniel Bowden as back-up to Carter.

New players to the squad are prop Peter Borlase and lock Sam Whitelock - who were part of Canterbury's Air New Zealand Cup winning side - Wellington centre Robbie Fruean and Guildford.

Last year's beaten finalists, the Chiefs, have retained the bulk of their squad and will once again be captained by Mils Muliaina.

All Blacks Stephen Donald and Mike Delany will be vying for the number 10 jersey and, although there are seven new players in the 28-man squad, three of those - Luke Braid, Culum Retallick and Romana Graham - were part of the wider training group last year.

Southland's impressive Air New Zealand Cup and Ranfurly Shield campaign has been rewarded with 10 of their players selected in the Highlanders squad.

Stags players new to the competition include John Hardie, Joe Tuineau and Robbie Robinson.

Northland prop Bronson Murray, who played for the Crusaders last year, and Hawke's Bay pair Matt Berquist and Jason Shoemark, have been picked up in the draft.

The 2009 Rebel Sport Super 14 squads are as follows:

BLUES:
Tony Woodcock, John Afoa, Charlie Faumuina, Tevita Mailau, Keven Mealamu, Tom McCartney, Anthony Boric, Ali Williams, Kurtis Haiu, Jerome Kaino, Peter Saili**, Serge Lilo (D)*, Tom Chamberlain**, Chris Lowrey, Viliame Ma'afu** +, Alby Mathewson*, Chris Smylie, Stephen Brett (D)*, Daniel Kirkpatrick (D)*, Luke McAlister***, Benson Stanley, Isaia Toeava, George Pisi***, Rudi Wulf, Anthony Tuitavake, Joe Rokocoko, Rene Ranger, Paul Williams.

CHIEFS:
Nathan White***, Ben Afeaki**, James McGougan, Sona Taumalolo, Aled de Malmanche, Hika Elliot, Kevin O'Neill, Craig Clarke, Culum Retallick**, Romana Graham**, Jarrad Hoeata (D)**, Liam Messam, Tanerau Latimer, Luke Braid**, Sione Lauaki, Colin Bourke, Brendon Leonard, Junior Poluleuligaga** +, Stephen Donald, Mike Delany, Callum Bruce, Jackson Willison, Richard Kahui, Lelia Masaga, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dwayne Sweeney, Tim Nanai-Williams**, Mils Muliaina.

HURRICANES:
John Schwalger, Jacob Ellison, Neemia Tialata, Anthony Perenise*, Andrew Hore, Dane Coles, Jeremy Thrush, Bryn Evans, James Broadhurst (D)**, Jason Eaton, Michael Paterson*, Victor Vito, Karl Lowe, Scott Waldrom, Rodney So'oialo, Nick Crosswell**, Piri Weepu, Tyson Keats (D)**, Aaron Cruden**, Willie Ripia, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Jason Kawau (D), Tamati Ellison, David Smith, Hosea Gear, Andre Taylor**, Cory Jane.

CRUSADERS:
Wyatt Crockett, Owen Franks, Ben Franks, Peter Borlase**, Corey Flynn, Ti'i Paulo***, Brad Thorn, Isaac Ross, Chris Jack***, Sam Whitelock**, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw, George Whitelock, Jonathan Poff, Thomas Waldrom, Andy Ellis, Kahn Fotuali'i, Daniel Carter***, Daniel Bowden (D)*, Ryan Crotty, Tim Bateman, Robert Fruean**, Adam Whitelock, Sean Maitland, Kade Poki, Zac Guildford*, Colin Slade, Jared Payne.

HIGHLANDERS:
Jamie Mackintosh, Clint Newland, Chris King, Bronson Murray (D)*, Jason Macdonald, Jason Rutledge, Josh Bekhuis, Tom Donnelly, Hayden Triggs, Joe Tuineau**, Adam Thomson, Alando Soakai, John Hardie**, Tim Boys, Nasi Manu*, Stephen Setephano, Jimmy Cowan, Sean Romans, Matt Berquist (D), Michael Hobbs*, Jayden Hayward, Jason Shoemark (D), Kendrick Lynn, James Paterson**, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Ben Smith, Robbie Robinson**, Israel Dagg

* New to franchise
** New to Super 14 competition
*** Returning player
+ Pacific Island player
D Draft player