The Crusaders are a New Zealand Rugby Union team located in Christchurch, New Zealand, Jade Stadium (AMI Stadium), originally called as the Canterbury Crusaders. They represent the Mid Canterbury, Buller, Nelson Bays, West Coast, South Canterbury unions, and Marlborough.
They participated in the Super 14 competition, and they have won five times in 10 years, called Super 12 (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2005).
The Crusaders had a perfect season in 2002, winning all 11 games in the main part of the tournament, followed by their semi-finals and finals.
It was their first season under the leadership of Reuben Thorne, who also served as the captain of the All Blacks in 2002 and 2003. Richie McCaw then took the position and led the team to the fifth Super 12 championship in 2005.
After Super 12 became Super 14, the Crusaders continued to maintain their dominance in southern hemisphere rugby by winning the first Super 14. In 2007, the All Blacks were eliminated from the Super 14's seven rounds, which caused damage to the Crusaders, and they were forced to compete in the Bulls' semi-final in Pretoria, where they lost and finished in third place.
They were in a leading position in most games in 2008 but were defeated by the Highlanders in the final round of the round-robin. They won a home semi-final, and when they defeated the Hurricanes, they won the final match by defeating the Waratahs. It was their last game under the leadership of head coach Robbie Deans, who left to coach the Australian national rugby team.
The current head coach is a former player and All-Black at Todd Blackadder, but he will retire after the 2016 season.
Based: Christchurch
Home: Orangetheory Stadium
Seating Capacity: 18,600
Head Coach: Scott Robertson
Captain: Scott Barrett
Super Rugby Titles: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 (Aotearoa), 2021 (Aotearoa)
Last Seasons: Super Rugby Aotearoa 2021: Played-9, Win-7, Lose- 2 (Winner)
Trans Tasman 2021: Played 5, Win-5, Lose-0 (3rd)
Date | Time | Round | Match | Venue |
FRI 14 FEB | 07:05 PM | 1 | Crusaders vs Hurricanes Live Stream | Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch |
FRI 21 FEB | 07:05 PM | 2 | Crusaders vs Chiefs Live Stream | FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton |
SUN 9 MAR | 03:35 PM | 4 | Crusaders vs Reds Live Stream | Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch |
SAT 15 MAR | 04:35 PM | 5 | Crusaders vs Force Live Stream | Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch |
SAT 22 MAR | 07:05 PM | 6 | Crusaders vs Blues Live Stream | Eden Park, Auckland |
SAT 29 MAR | 07:05 PM | 7 | Moana Pasifika vs Crusaders Live Stream | Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch |
SAT 5 APR | 03:35 PM | 8 | Crusaders vs Fijian Drua Live Stream | HFC Bank Stadium, Fiji |
FRI 18 APR | 07:05 PM | 10 | Crusaders vs Blues Live Stream | Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch |
SAT 26 APR | 07:05 PM | 11 | Crusaders vs Highlanders Live Stream | Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin |
SAT 10 MAY | 07:05 PM | 13 | Crusaders vs Chiefs Live Stream | Allianz Stadium |
FRI16 MAY | 09:35 PM | 14 | Waratahs vs Crusaders Live Stream | Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin |
FRI 23 MAY | 04:35 PM | 15 | Crusaders vs Highlanders Live Stream | Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch |
FRI 30 MAY | 07:05 PM | 16 | Crusaders vs Brumbies Live Stream | GIO Stadium, Canberra |
Forwards: Xavier Saifoloi, Cullen Grace, Fletcher Newell, Tom Christie, George Bower, Tamaiti Williams, Finlay Brewis, Seb Calder, Codie Taylor, Ioane Moananu, George Bell, Quinten Strange, Scott Barrett, Jamie Hannah, Dom Gardiner, Tahlor Cahill, Cory Kellow, Ethan Blackadder, Christian Lio-Willie, Antonio Shalfoon, Fletcher Anderson, Kershawl Sykes-Martin.
Backs: Braydon Ennor, James O’Connor, Mitch Drummond, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Taha Kemara, Dallas McLeod, David Havili, Levi Aumua, Chay Fihaki, Macca Springer, Will Jordan, Aki Tuivailala, Johnny McNicoll, Kyle Preston, and Sevu Reece.