Crusaders (rugby union) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Crusaders

Union	New Zealand Rugby Union
Founded	1996; 29 years ago (1996)
Location	Christchurch, New Zealand
Region	Buller Canterbury Mid-Canterbury South Canterbury Tasman West Coast
Ground(s)	Apollo Projects Stadium (Capacity: 18,600)
Coach(es)	Rob Penney
Captain(s)	David Havili
Most caps	Wyatt Crockett (202)
Top scorer	Dan Carter (1,708)
League(s)	Super Rugby Pacific
2025	2nd overall Playoffs: Champions
1st kit 2nd kit
Official website

The Crusaders (Māori: Whatumoana) are a professional rugby union team from New Zealand. They are based in Christchurch and play in the Super Rugby competition. The Crusaders are the most successful team in Super Rugby history. They have won 13 titles in the main competition, including in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2025. They also won two special Super Rugby titles in 2020 and 2021.

The team started in 1996 to represent the upper South Island of New Zealand. They represent several smaller rugby areas like Buller, Canterbury, and Tasman. Their main home ground since 2012 is Rugby League Park, also known as Apollo Projects Stadium. Before that, they played at Lancaster Park, which was damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

The Crusaders had a tough start in 1996, finishing last. But they quickly improved. They won three titles in a row from 1998 to 2000. In 2002, they won the competition without losing a single game. They continued to be a top team, winning more titles in 2005, 2006, and 2008. From 2017 to 2019, they won three more titles in a row. They also won the special Super Rugby Aotearoa competitions in 2020 and 2021. In 2022 and 2023, they won the new Super Rugby Pacific titles. Most recently, they won their 13th main title in 2025.

The Crusaders have had only three chief executive officers (CEOs) in their 29-year history. These leaders have helped guide the team to its many successes.

Team History

Early Years: 1996–1997

The Crusaders team was one of five New Zealand teams created for the Super 12 competition. At first, they were called the Canterbury Crusaders. Their area covered the upper South Island, including several smaller rugby unions. In 1996, the team was led by captain Richard Loe and coached by Vance Stewart. They struggled in their first season, winning only two games and finishing last.

In 1997, Todd Blackadder became captain and Wayne Smith took over as coach. The team improved, winning five games and finishing sixth. This showed they were getting better, even though they lost to the Blues, who won the title that year.

Winning Three in a Row: 1998–2000

The Crusaders won their first title in 1998. They had a slow start but won their last seven games to finish second. They then won their semi-final against the Coastal Sharks.

In the final, they played the Blues, who were expected to win. But the Crusaders won a close game 20–13. Andrew Mehrtens scored many points, setting a record for the season. When the team returned to Christchurch, 100,000 people came out for a parade!

We're a regional selection... and it's important to remember that, besides Canterbury, we also represent Nelson Bays, Marlborough, Buller, West Coast, Mid-Canterbury and South Canterbury

The 1999 season was also successful. The Crusaders finished fourth but beat the top-ranked Queensland Reds in the semi-final. They then played the Otago Highlanders in an all-South Island final. The Crusaders won 24–19, with a key try from Afato So'oalo.

After 1999, Wayne Smith became the All Blacks coach. Robbie Deans took over as Crusaders coach. In 2000, Deans led the team to their third title in a row. They finished second in the regular season and beat the Highlanders in the semi-final. The final was played in cold weather against the Brumbies in Australia. The Crusaders won a very close game 20–19, securing their third championship.

Building a Legacy: 2001–2005

After their three wins, the Crusaders finished tenth in 2001, their lowest finish since 1996. Captain Todd Blackadder left the team that year.

But they bounced back strongly in 2002. They won every single game of the Super 12 season, earning their fourth title. This included a huge 96–19 win over the Waratahs. They beat the Highlanders in the semi-final and the Brumbies in the final, winning 31–13. Reuben Thorne was the captain that year.

Their winning streak ended in 2003 when they lost to the Blues. Despite this, they finished second and reached the final again. However, they lost to the Blues 21–17. In 2004, they also reached the final but lost to the Brumbies.

The 2005 season saw the Crusaders finish first in the regular season. They beat the Hurricanes in the semi-final. In the final, they faced the Waratahs and won 35–20, claiming their fifth title. Because they had won so many times, the Crusaders were allowed to keep the Super 12 trophy. After this season, long-time players Andrew Mehrtens and Justin Marshall left the team.

Super 14 Era: 2006–2010

The Crusaders playing the Bulls in 2006.

In 2006, the competition grew to become the Super 14. The Crusaders continued their success, winning 11 games and finishing first. They beat the Bulls in the semi-final. The final against the Hurricanes was played in thick fog, but the Crusaders won 19–12.

In 2007, seven Crusaders players were part of a special All Blacks training program. This meant they missed the first seven games. Despite this, the Crusaders still did well. They became the first team to reach 100 Super Rugby wins. They lost to the Bulls in the semi-final.

The 2008 season was another great one. The Crusaders finished first and beat the Hurricanes in the semi-final. They then won the final against the Waratahs 20–12. This was a special win as it was coach Robbie Deans' last game with the team. Former captain Todd Blackadder became the new coach in 2008.

The 2009 and 2010 seasons saw the Crusaders reach the semi-finals but lose to the Bulls both times.

Challenges and Resilience: 2011–2016

The 2011 season started with a loss and a cancelled game due to the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The earthquake caused a lot of damage, including to their home stadium. The team played their "home" games in different locations that year, including a special match in London to raise money for earthquake relief. Despite these challenges, the Crusaders reached the final but lost to the Queensland Reds.

In 2012, the Crusaders moved to a new temporary home ground, Rugby League Park. They reached the semi-finals in 2012 and 2013, but lost to the Chiefs both times. In 2014, they made it to the final again but lost to the Waratahs. They missed the playoffs in 2015 but returned in 2016, losing in the quarter-finals.

A New Dynasty: 2017–2023

In 2017, Scott Robertson became the new head coach. The team went on to win their eighth Super Rugby title, beating the Lions 25–17 in South Africa.

In 2018, the Crusaders played the Lions in the final again, this time at home. They won 37–18, securing their ninth title. In 2019, they won their third title in a row, beating the Jaguares 19–3 at home. This was their tenth championship overall.

In 2020, the Super Rugby season was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A new domestic competition called Super Rugby Aotearoa started. The Crusaders won this competition, winning seven out of eight games. In 2021, they won Super Rugby Aotearoa again, beating the Chiefs in the final.

In 2022 and 2023, the Crusaders won the newly formed Super Rugby Pacific competition. They beat the Blues 21–7 in the 2022 final and the Chiefs 25–20 in the 2023 final. Scott Robertson's time as head coach ended after the 2023 season, marking a very successful period for the team.

Recent Seasons: 2024–Present

In June 2023, Rob Penney was announced as the Crusaders Head Coach for 2024 and 2025. The 2024 season was tough for the Crusaders, as they won only 4 games and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

However, in 2025, the Crusaders had a great comeback year. They finished second in the regular season, winning 11 out of 14 games. They qualified for the playoffs and beat the Queensland Reds in the qualifying final. They then defeated the defending champions, the Blues, in the semi-final. The Crusaders hosted the Chiefs in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific Final and won 16–12, claiming their 13th main title.

Team Name and Colours

The Horsemen performing to the crowd before a match

The name "Crusaders" was chosen to show the "crusading nature of Canterbury rugby." It also connects to the English history of Christchurch. The team uses Canterbury's traditional sports colours: red and black.

After the events in Christchurch in March 2019, the team thought about changing their name. Some people felt the name "Crusaders" could be offensive because of its link to the historical Crusades. However, the name was kept for the 2020 season. The team did change their logo in late 2019, replacing the knight and sword with a new design.

Team Area

⊗ AMI Stadium

⊗ Fraser Park

⊗ Trafalgar Park

The Crusaders team area includes the regions of Buller, Canterbury, Mid-Canterbury, South Canterbury, Tasman, and West Coast rugby unions. Most Crusaders players come from the Canterbury and Tasman unions.

Home Grounds

The Crusaders' main home ground used to be the 36,000-seat AMI Stadium in Christchurch. But they stopped playing there in 2011 because of earthquake damage. They sometimes played games in other parts of their area, like Trafalgar Park in Nelson or Fraser Park in Timaru.

After the earthquake, the Crusaders started using Rugby League Park (now called Apollo Projects Stadium) in Addington as their main home ground. This stadium was updated to hold 18,600 fans.

Construction began in January 2023 on a new stadium for Christchurch called Te Kaha Stadium. This new stadium will seat 30,000 people and have a roof. It is planned to open in April 2026 and will be another home ground for the Crusaders.

Nelson	Christchurch	Timaru
Trafalgar Park	AMI Stadium	Fraser Park
Capacity: 18,000	Capacity: 18,600	Capacity: 12,500

Player Development

The Crusaders have a special Academy to help young players become future stars. Many players who trained in their academy have gone on to play for the Crusaders and even the All Blacks. They have different teams like the Development XV, Junior Crusaders (U18), and Crusaders (U20) to help players grow. They also have an International Academy for young players from around the world to learn about rugby in New Zealand.

Team Achievements

Super Rugby Titles (1996–Present)

• Champions (13): 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025
• Runners-up (4): 2003, 2004, 2011, 2014
• Super Rugby Aotearoa Champions (2): 2020, 2021

Records and Stats

Season Standings

Here's how the Crusaders have finished each season:

Notes

Teams received four points for a bye during the Super Rugby seasons from 2011 to 2013. These points are included in their season totals.
In 2020, the Super Rugby season was cancelled after Round 7 due to COVID-19. No champion was named.
Super Rugby Aotearoa was a special competition for New Zealand teams in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, the title went to the top team after a round robin. In 2021, there was a final between the top two teams.
Super Rugby Trans Tasman in 2021 was a competition between Australian and New Zealand teams. The top two teams played in a final.

Individual Player Records

Record points scorer Dan Carter preparing to kick a conversion.

• Most Points in a career: 1,708 (Dan Carter)
• Most Tries in a career: 66 (Sevu Reece)
• Most Appearances: 202 (Wyatt Crockett)

Team Records

• Highest Regular Season Finish: 1st (2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2018, 2019)
• Most Wins in a Season: 17 (2017)
• Biggest Win: 96–19 (77 point win in 2002 vs Waratahs)
• Longest Winning Streak: 19 games (2018–2019)
• Longest Home Winning Streak: 36 games (2017–2020)
• First Team to 100 Wins: 2007 season
• First Team to 200 Wins: 2016 season
• First Team to 300 Wins: 2024 season

Overall Records

• Games played: 450
• Games won: 316
• Games lost: 123
• Games drawn: 11
• Winning percentage: 70%

Playoff Records

• Games played: 50
• Games won: 40
• Games lost: 10
• Winning percentage: 80%

The Crusaders hold many Super Rugby records. They have scored the most points in a game (96 points in 2002) and the most tries in a season (94 in 2018). They also hold the record for the fewest points scored in a game (0 points in 2009).

Many players have played over 100 games for the Crusaders. Some famous players include Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, and Kieran Read. These three players have also won the International Rugby Board Player of the Year award multiple times.

Current Team Squad

The squad for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season is:

Famous Past Players

Many players from the Crusaders have gone on to play for the All Blacks, New Zealand's national team.

All Blacks from the Crusaders

Players with 100+ Games

Twenty-four players have played over 100 games for the Crusaders. Here are some of them, listed by how many games they played:

• Wyatt Crockett (202 games)
• Samuel Whitelock (180 games)
• Owen Franks (163 games)
• Kieran Read (157 games)
• Ryan Crotty (156 games)
• Andy Ellis (155 games)
• Corey Flynn (151 games)
• Mitchell Drummond (150 games)
• Codie Taylor (146 games)
• Richie McCaw (145 games)
• David Havili (142 games)
• Dan Carter (141 games)
• Matt Todd (141 games)
• Luke Romano (136 games)
• Scott Barrett (132 games)
• Reuben Thorne (129 games)
• Joe Moody (128 games)
• Caleb Ralph (126 games)
• Leon MacDonald (122 games)
• Greg Somerville (115 games)
• Chris Jack (114 games)
• Richie Mo'unga (109 games)
• Justin Marshall (105 games)
• Jordan Taufua (101 games)

Crusaders Hall of Fame

The Crusaders started a Hall of Fame in 2023 to honour special players and coaches.

Coaches

The Crusaders have had several coaches since 1996. Vance Stewart was the first coach. Wayne Smith took over in 1997 and led them to their first titles. Robbie Deans then coached the team from 2000 to 2008, winning many championships.

Former captain Todd Blackadder became coach in 2008. He was followed by Scott Robertson in 2017, who led the team to a new era of success with many titles. In June 2023, Rob Penney became the new head coach.

Current Coaching Staff

• Head Coach: Rob Penney
• Assistant coaches: Ryan Crotty, James Marshall, Brad Mooar, Dan Perrin, Matt Todd

Coach Records

Here are the records for Crusaders coaches:

Crusaders coaches by date, matches and win percentage*

Coach	Period	G	W	D	L	%
Vance Stewart	1996	&&&&&&&&&&&&&011.&&&&&011	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08	&&&&&&&&&&&&&018.20000018.2
Wayne Smith	1997–1999	&&&&&&&&&&&&&037.&&&&&037	&&&&&&&&&&&&&024.&&&&&024	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02	&&&&&&&&&&&&&011.&&&&&011	&&&&&&&&&&&&&064.90000064.9
Robbie Deans	2000–2008	&&&&&&&&&&&&0120.&&&&&0120	&&&&&&&&&&&&&089.&&&&&089	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01	&&&&&&&&&&&&&030.&&&&&030	&&&&&&&&&&&&&074.20000074.2
Todd Blackadder	2009–2016	&&&&&&&&&&&&0133.&&&&&0133	&&&&&&&&&&&&&085.&&&&&085	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03	&&&&&&&&&&&&&045.&&&&&045	&&&&&&&&&&&&&063.90000063.9
Scott Robertson	2017–2023	&&&&&&&&&&&&0118.&&&&&0118	&&&&&&&&&&&&&098.&&&&&098	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04	&&&&&&&&&&&&&016.&&&&&016	&&&&&&&&&&&&&083.10000083.1
Rob Penney	2024–	&&&&&&&&&&&&&031.&&&&&031	&&&&&&&&&&&&&018.&&&&&018	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00	&&&&&&&&&&&&&013.&&&&&013	&&&&&&&&&&&&&058.10000058.1
Totals (1996–present)		&&&&&&&&&&&&0450.&&&&&0450	&&&&&&&&&&&&0316.&&&&&0316	&&&&&&&&&&&&&011.&&&&&011	&&&&&&&&&&&&0123.&&&&&0123	&&&&&&&&&&&&&070.20000070.2
Updated to: 21 June 2025

Notes:

See also

In Spanish: Crusaders para niños