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RNZ News
7 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Fans get up close and personal with Crusaders heroes
A hero's welcome has greeted the triumphant Crusaders having restored their Super Rugby supremacy . Hundreds of fans gathered in central Christchurch on Monday to revel in the side's celebrations, less than 48 hours after the side clinched the title for the 15th time. The Crusaders were once again crowned Super Rugby champions, edging the Chiefs 16-12 in Saturday's grand final at Apollo Projects Stadium. Chanting, red and black flags and the familiar ascent of "Conquest of Paradise" coloured the atmosphere as rabid fans got up close and personal with their heroes and the silverware. Celebrations on Cashel Street were also fittingly in full sight of construction of the franchise's forthcoming new home One New Zealand Stadium, also known as Te Kaha. The new multi-use arena is due to open in April. Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon High school teachers Milika Faitotonu and Poe Kairua, both family members of former Crusaders linchpin Richie Mo'unga, were one of the earliest patrons gathered on Cashel Street. Faitotonu said the Crusaders' "spirit and culture" set them apart from other sporting teams. "As [David Havili] said it's the families, the culture. We are a whānau and a family, and family is very important. "It just took a year for Penney to establish that relationship with the boys." The pair said they could not wait to attend games at the new stadium after enduring the wintry clime in Addington for many years. "I think moving from Apollo over to One New Zealand... I think that was the best send-off we could've had, not just for the Crusader fans, but for the whole community," Kairua said. "It takes Christchurch city to get behind the boys and make them a success." Mayor Phil Mauger playfully paid tribute to the squad during formalities. He said he was pleased with the team had won the final as he would have "had to put a hold on the stadium". Crusaders and All Blacks halfback Noah Hotham told RNZ the turnout was "amazing". "Any time we can connect with our fans, our home, it's an awesome time, very special. "You see from last year how much scrutiny we went through, how people started talking about the downfall of the Crusaders. To see how we've come back from that and learned from our mistakes last year, it makes it so much more satisfying." Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon Midfielder Dallas McLeod admitted some of the squad were "slowly recovering" from big post-match celebrations. "We've had a good couple of days with the boys celebrating it so it's been good." The squad had goals at the beginning of the campaign, namely turning things around following last year's ninth-placed finish, McLeod said. "Having Davey (David Havili) as the leader this year has been awesome, driving that alongside the rest of the leaders in the team. So having that goal at the start and working hard to get it done is very cool." It was a double celebration for several Crusaders players, with seven of the squad named in the All Blacks squad earlier in the day for next month's test series against France. Crusaders number eight Christian Lio-Willie was also named in the squad as injury cover for loose forward Luke Jacobsen.
RNZ News
21-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
The Empire Strikes Back - Crusaders win Super Rugby Pacific
Codie Taylor of the Crusaders celebrates after scoring a try with Noah Hotham of the Crusaders during the Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final match between Crusaders and Chiefs at Apollo Projects Stadium. Photo:We're finally here - the business end of a fantastic season of Super Rugby Pacific. Will it be redemption for the Crusaders after last season's horror show, or a breakthrough win in their third final in a row for the Chiefs? Kick-off is at 7:05pm NZT. Read how the game unfolded with RNZ's live blog: Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Antonio Shalfoon, 6. Ethan Blackadder, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Noah Hotham, 10. Rivez Reihana, 11. Macca Springer, 12. David Havili (c), 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan Bench: 16. George Bell, 17. George Bower, 18. Seb Calder, 19. Jamie Hannah, 20. Cullen Grace, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. James O'Connor, 23. Dallas McLeod Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3. George Dyer, 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Luke Jacobson, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson Bench: 16. Brodie McAlister, 17. Aidan Ross, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Jimmy Tupou, 20. Kaylum Boshier, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Etene Nanai-Seturo
RNZ News
17-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
'Leave them at home': Cowbells a no-no at Super Rugby Pacific final
Photo: Photosport The Crusaders don't want any Chiefs fans to bring cowbells to the Super Rugby Pacific final in Christchurch on Saturday. The final is set up as the perfect crescendo to a compelling 2025 season, with the Chiefs, the number one ranked team in the round robin and second ranked Crusaders to duke it out. The Crusaders have never lost a playoff match. Since Super Rugby began in 1996, they've gone unbeaten in 31 home finals and playoff games across three decades. For the last 14 years, the 17,000-capacity Apollo Projects stadium has hosted the Crusaders but the franchise is set to move to the much bigger One New Zealand Te Kaha Stadium, when it opens next year. In a LinkedIn post, Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge said Chiefs fans were welcome, but not their noisy cowbells. "There's also the fact that it's tight. It's not FMG (Farmers Mutual Group) Stadium or Eden Park, New Zealand. It's tight. It's compact and there's just enough room to wave a really thin flag. There ain't no room to swing a bloody big cowbell and take out the person sitting in the seat beside you. "This is going to be a game for the ages. It's going to be a game for fans to enjoy. All Chiefs Rugby Club fans are hugely welcome to come and enjoy the venue." "No cowbells. "I'll be asking Venues Ōtautahi to melt them down at the gate. So, seriously, leave them at home!" Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
14-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
All Blacks watch: what we learned from the Super Rugby Pacific semis
Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Analysis - It is somewhat ironic that after all the hype and talk of this being the most exciting Super Rugby season in years, we've ended up with a very traditional looking final. The Crusaders will host the Chiefs next weekend, in one last hurrah for both the visitors' coach Clayton McMillan and the accursed home ground of the 14-time champions. McMillan will be hoping to avoid leaving New Zealand with the record of three losing finals in a row, and while he'll be missed, it's unlikely anyone will feel the same about Apollo Projects Stadium. The supposedly temporary ground has ended up being the home for the Crusaders for just as long as Lancaster Park ever was, with the team set to move to the new, very much improved and massively overdue One NZ Stadium next year. But while both sides will be outwardly focused on that match, there will be a bit in the back of the minds of a few players regarding the All Black squad naming on the Monday after. While almost everyone in it will presumably be locked in, the weekend's two games did provide a few talking points about what might happen when Scott Robertson's team actually takes the field. Damian McKenzie of the Chiefs, Chiefs v Brumbies Super Rugby Pacific semi final. Photo: Jeremy Ward/ A week after Beauden Barrett won a fairly comfortable points decision win over Damian McKenzie in the Blues' victory against the Chiefs, McKenzie struck back with his best performance of the season. While the 37-17 scoreline over the Brumbies may appear comfortable, it was anyone's game near the end of the first half. However, McKenzie's influence on the game became apparent, nailing all but one of his shots at goal for 22 points and consistently sending the ball skyward for his team mates to successfully contest. Meanwhile, Barrett was good in the Blues' 21-14 loss to the Crusaders but unable to play the sort of match-winning hand he did a week ago. It does feel like these have been All Black trials in all but name, with McKenzie now having one more chance to earn the 10 jersey next weekend. Referee James Doleman. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2025 Both semis involved ultimately costly yellow cards, firstly Braydon Ennor and Josh Fusitu'a's resulting in tries scored against their respective sides on Friday night. But Hoskins Sotutu having to watch the Blues' campaign end from the bin will be the most disappointing, as his large frame should've been a crucial factor for their final assault on the Crusaders' line. Tupou Vaa'i's yellow in the first half of the Chiefs v Brumbies game allowed the Australians to score the first try and dictate the pace of the game almost till the halftime hooter sounded. It's a timely reminder that the margin for error in test match rugby is extremely fine, with unnecessary yellows playing a big part in three of the All Blacks' four losses last year. Ethan Blackadder of the Crusaders. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2025 The Crusaders blindside was outstanding against the Blues, which ultimately makes his frequent injury issues just that much more frustrating. A consistently fit Blackadder would change the All Black loose forward picture dramatically and for the better, so while he will certainly be named, the challenge is to make sure his body holds up. Reduce his training workload? Hire more doctors and physios? Send him off to see Waisake Naholo's uncle ? All viable options. Quinn Tupaea competes for the ball with Andy Muirhead. Photo: Jeremy Ward / Both games involved rapid responses in the form of tries scored directly after play had been restarted, firstly Tom Christie going over just as the Blues had established a 14-0 lead. McKenzie kicked a penalty to swing momentum back to the Chiefs after Corey Toole had scored for the Brumbies, then Emoni Narawa went over for a try when Toole crossed again after halftime. The most spectacular example ended up not being a try though, when Tom Wright plucked the kick-off out of the air and set sail up field, only to be denied by McKenzie getting his hand underneath the ball as they slid across the tryline.
RNZ News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Super Rugby Pacific: teams named for semi-finals
After an improbable run to the semi-finals, the Blues carry in much-needed momentum into Friday night's big clash with the Crusaders. They've only made one change to the side that beat the Chiefs but it's an interesting one, with Zarn Sullivan coming in at fullback. That suggests coach Vern Cotter is anticipating a bit of kicking, with Sullivan's boot perhaps the biggest in the country right now. Meanwhile, it's an unchanged Crusaders team that will meet them at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch. There's a slight reshuffle in the loosies for the Chiefs in their side to take on the Brumbies on Saturday night in Hamilton. Wallace Sititi has been named to start at number eight, with Luke Jacobson returning at openside and Samipeni Finau on the blindside. Simon Parker picked up an ankle strain in the loss to the Blues and drops out of the squad, with Jimmy Tupou and Kaylum Boshier on the bench. Quinn Tupaea returns to starts at second five as well. Crusaders v Blues Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 13 June Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch Live blog updates on RNZ Crusaders: 1. George Bower, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Antonio Shalfoon, 6. Ethan Blackadder, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Noah Hotham, 10. Rivez Reihana, 11. Sevu Reece, 12. David Havili, 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Chay Fihaki, 15. Will Jordan Bench: 16. George Bell, 17. Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18. Seb Calder, 19. Jamie Hannah, 20. Cullen Grace, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. James O'Connor, 23. Dallas McLeod Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu'a, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5. Laghlan McWhannell, 6. Adrian Choat, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. AJ Lam, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele'a, 15. Zarn Sullivan Bench: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Jordan Lay, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Josh Beehre, 20. Anton Segner, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Harry Plummer, 23. Cole Forbes Zarn Sullivan of the Blues. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Chiefs v Brumbies Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 14 June FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton Live blog updates on RNZ Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3. George Dyer, 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Luke Jacobson, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson Bench: 16. Brodie McAlister, 17. Jared Proffit, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Jimmy Tupou, 20. Kaylum Boshier, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Gideon Wrampling
