AAP


Veteran NRL star Danny Buderus will cross codes one day a week to teach tackle skills to the Brumbies ahead of the 2013 Super Rugby season.


Buderus will assist the Brumbies as their "collision coach" while still preparing to play for his NRL club Newcastle next season.


The 34-year-old will travel to Canberra once a week to coach tackle-specific skills through to the beginning of the NRL season.


Brumbies' coach Jake White is looking at new ways to lift his young side next year after missing the Super Rugby finals by just one point in 2012.


A veteran of 24 Tests for Australia, Knights' hooker Buderus has played 242 games for Newcastle and was the last NSW captain to win a State of Origin series - back in 2005.


Buderus said the opportunity to begin a coaching career was a chance too good to pass up.


"Coaching is something I've always thought would be an interesting way to keep a connection with sport once I'd finished playing and this opportunity certainly allows me to start the ball rolling," he said on Thursday.


He will join former Brumbies' head coach Laurie Fisher, Wallabies' great Stephen Larkham and athletic performance director Dean Benton as assistants to World Cup-winning coach White.


The Brumbies returned to pre-season training last week and Buderus will start working with the side on Thursday.