Source: Radio New Zealand
Super Rugby Pacific is back after a real return to form last year, with the competition kicking off in Dunedin on 13 February. As usual, each team has gone through an eventful off season, so today we’re checking in on the defending champion Crusaders.
Read: Highlanders preview
Read: Moana Pasifika preview
Read: Blues preview
Read: Hurricanes preview
Read: Chiefs preview
Overview
Rob Penney with the Super Rugby trophy. John Davidson / www.photosport.nz
What a return to form last year, but was anyone really that surprised? After a horror 2024 that saw them miss the playoffs and coach Rob Penney narrowly avoid getting sacked, they came firing back to beat the Chiefs in the final. It wasn’t without hiccups, including a big loss at home to Moana Pasifika, but it didn’t matter in the end as we were once again treated to the sight of a jubilant Crusaders side lifting yet another trophy.
The Good
One NZ Stadium under construction. © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz
Not only do they go in as champs, but there’s also a new stadium to look forward to as well. The Crusaders will effectively double the amount of home support they get from Anzac weekend onwards, meanwhile Penney comes back as NZ Rugby coach of the year and with a pretty settled squad.
The Bad
Scott Barrett of the Crusaders. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Not much to nitpick over really, other than Scott Barrett sitting the season out due to a contract-mandated rest sabbatical. Even then, that will likely end up being a positive, the last Crusaders player to do that was Codie Taylor and he came back in career-best form.
Big boots to fill
Noah Hotham of the Crusaders kicks during the Super Rugby Pacific Final. John Davidson / www.photosport.nz
Noah Hotham had an injury-ravaged 2025, so will be keen to try and maintain his starting position over Kyle Preston. Both men are gunning for All Black spots later in the year, with Hotham having a big opportunity in Super Rugby Pacific to showcase his running game early, then switch to a defensive kicking strategy when the Crusaders inevitably make the playoffs.
What makes Crusaders fans different
Crusaders fans. © Photosport Ltd 2024 www.photosport.nz
They’re the only ones in the comp to have a new home ground, for a start. The opening of One NZ Stadium will make a massive difference to not only the fanbase, but entire city of Christchurch, putting the Crusaders on an even higher pedestal than they already occupy in local eyes. And boy, won’t they let us know about it if it ever gets brought up in conversation.
Big games
The biggest one will be on 24 February, when the Crusaders meet the Waratahs for the grand opening of their new home. After that, it’s a pretty tough run into the playoffs, with two games against the Hurricanes, as well as one each against the Blues and Chiefs.
Crusaders 2026 squad
Props: Finlay Brewis, Fletcher Newell, George Bower, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Seb Calder, Tamaiti Williams
Hookers: Codie Taylor, George Bell, Manumaua Letiu
Locks: Antonio Shalfoon, Jamie Hannah, Liam Jack, Scott Barrett, Tahlor Cahill
Loose forwards: Dominic Gardiner, Christian Lio-Willie, Corey Kellow, Cullen Grace, Ethan Blackadder, Xavier Saifoloi
Halfbacks: Kyle Preston, Louie Chapman, Noah Hotham
First fives: James White, Rivez Reihana, Taha Kemara
Midfield: Aki Tuivailala, Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Toby Bell
Outside backs: Chay Fihaki, Johnny McNicoll, Macca Springer, Maloni Kunawave, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
