Crusaders 2026
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A one year extension for Penney. Assistants remain the same
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I’ve heard similar.
Weirdly it’s a decision that makes sense given the proliferation of ABs loose forwards at the Chiefs now (increased this week!).
I wonder whether Grace might be forced out potentially. -
@Grooter said in Crusaders 2026:
Oli Mathis signing should be dropping soon look out for that.
But he is ours! The Chiefs fans with their five All Black loosies will grumble.
Kid will be guaranteed a spot in the Crusaders 23. Smart move.
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I’ve heard similar.
Weirdly it’s a decision that makes sense given the proliferation of ABs loose forwards at the Chiefs now (increased this week!).
I wonder whether Grace might be forced out potentially.@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
I’ve heard similar.
Weirdly it’s a decision that makes sense given the proliferation of ABs loose forwards at the Chiefs now (increased this week!).
I wonder whether Grace might be forced out potentially.The main counter argument is that the Chiefs don't have an out-and-out openside flanker.
Poor Chiefs have already lost Xavier Saifaloi and Malachi Wrampling, hopefully this rumour doesn't come to fruition.
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I’ve heard similar.
Weirdly it’s a decision that makes sense given the proliferation of ABs loose forwards at the Chiefs now (increased this week!).
I wonder whether Grace might be forced out potentially.@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
I’ve heard similar.
Weirdly it’s a decision that makes sense given the proliferation of ABs loose forwards at the Chiefs now (increased this week!).
I wonder whether Grace might be forced out potentially.Fletcher Anderson the one likely to be forced out.
I should add out of the squad, if you mean the 23 then most likely Grace, the way Christie has been playing it will be a hard ask to drop him. -
@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
I’ve heard similar.
Weirdly it’s a decision that makes sense given the proliferation of ABs loose forwards at the Chiefs now (increased this week!).
I wonder whether Grace might be forced out potentially.Fletcher Anderson the one likely to be forced out.
I should add out of the squad, if you mean the 23 then most likely Grace, the way Christie has been playing it will be a hard ask to drop him. -
@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
I’ve heard similar.
Weirdly it’s a decision that makes sense given the proliferation of ABs loose forwards at the Chiefs now (increased this week!).
I wonder whether Grace might be forced out potentially.Fletcher Anderson the one likely to be forced out.
I should add out of the squad, if you mean the 23 then most likely Grace, the way Christie has been playing it will be a hard ask to drop him.@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
I’ve heard similar.
Weirdly it’s a decision that makes sense given the proliferation of ABs loose forwards at the Chiefs now (increased this week!).
I wonder whether Grace might be forced out potentially.Fletcher Anderson the one likely to be forced out.
I should add out of the squad, if you mean the 23 then most likely Grace, the way Christie has been playing it will be a hard ask to drop him.I was meaning the squad just in terms of loose forwards and probably needing to move to reset his career a little.
Fletcher Anderson I’m yet to be convinced by.
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@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
I’ve heard similar.
Weirdly it’s a decision that makes sense given the proliferation of ABs loose forwards at the Chiefs now (increased this week!).
I wonder whether Grace might be forced out potentially.The main counter argument is that the Chiefs don't have an out-and-out openside flanker.
Poor Chiefs have already lost Xavier Saifaloi and Malachi Wrampling, hopefully this rumour doesn't come to fruition.
@Mr-Fish said in Crusaders 2026:
@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
I’ve heard similar.
Weirdly it’s a decision that makes sense given the proliferation of ABs loose forwards at the Chiefs now (increased this week!).
I wonder whether Grace might be forced out potentially.The main counter argument is that the Chiefs don't have an out-and-out openside flanker.
Poor Chiefs have already lost Xavier Saifaloi and Malachi Wrampling, hopefully this rumour doesn't come to fruition.
Maybe he couldn’t see a path to starting in the outside backs there
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@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
I’ve heard similar.
Weirdly it’s a decision that makes sense given the proliferation of ABs loose forwards at the Chiefs now (increased this week!).
I wonder whether Grace might be forced out potentially.Fletcher Anderson the one likely to be forced out.
I should add out of the squad, if you mean the 23 then most likely Grace, the way Christie has been playing it will be a hard ask to drop him.I was meaning the squad just in terms of loose forwards and probably needing to move to reset his career a little.
Fletcher Anderson I’m yet to be convinced by.
@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
I’ve heard similar.
Weirdly it’s a decision that makes sense given the proliferation of ABs loose forwards at the Chiefs now (increased this week!).
I wonder whether Grace might be forced out potentially.Fletcher Anderson the one likely to be forced out.
I should add out of the squad, if you mean the 23 then most likely Grace, the way Christie has been playing it will be a hard ask to drop him.I was meaning the squad just in terms of loose forwards and probably needing to move to reset his career a little.
Fletcher Anderson I’m yet to be convinced by.
Same for me with Fletcher Anderson I think he will make way for Mathis.
Grace hasn't signed as yet so maybe looking at his options. -
I’ve heard similar.
Weirdly it’s a decision that makes sense given the proliferation of ABs loose forwards at the Chiefs now (increased this week!).
I wonder whether Grace might be forced out potentially.@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
I’ve heard similar.
Weirdly it’s a decision that makes sense given the proliferation of ABs loose forwards at the Chiefs now (increased this week!).
I wonder whether Grace might be forced out potentially.will be interesting what he does. but hes is not competing with the parkers/finau/tups/sititi he is a 7 and probably needs to bulk up for super rugby. a year or two backing up LJ and getting some game time would work.
which is what would happen to him at crusaders as well -
@Grooter said in Crusaders 2026:
Oli Mathis signing should be dropping soon look out for that.
But he is ours! The Chiefs fans with their five All Black loosies will grumble.
Kid will be guaranteed a spot in the Crusaders 23. Smart move.
@SouthernMann said in Crusaders 2026:
@Grooter said in Crusaders 2026:
Oli Mathis signing should be dropping soon look out for that.
But he is ours! The Chiefs fans with their five All Black loosies will grumble.
Kid will be guaranteed a spot in the Crusaders 23. Smart move.
Guaranteed a spot? Don't Crusaders have both Tom Christie and Corey Kellow?
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@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
I’ve heard similar.
Weirdly it’s a decision that makes sense given the proliferation of ABs loose forwards at the Chiefs now (increased this week!).
I wonder whether Grace might be forced out potentially.The main counter argument is that the Chiefs don't have an out-and-out openside flanker.
Poor Chiefs have already lost Xavier Saifaloi and Malachi Wrampling, hopefully this rumour doesn't come to fruition.
@Mr-Fish said in Crusaders 2026:
The main counter argument is that the Chiefs don't have an out-and-out openside flanker.
The Chiefs do, but McMillan didn't play him enough. I think that the Chiefs never lost a game when Brown was at 7, and no, he didn't just play the gimme games.
If Oli goes to the Crusaders he'll add to their collection of HBHS players.
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@SouthernMann said in Crusaders 2026:
@Grooter said in Crusaders 2026:
Oli Mathis signing should be dropping soon look out for that.
But he is ours! The Chiefs fans with their five All Black loosies will grumble.
Kid will be guaranteed a spot in the Crusaders 23. Smart move.
Guaranteed a spot? Don't Crusaders have both Tom Christie and Corey Kellow?
@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Crusaders 2026:
@Grooter said in Crusaders 2026:
Oli Mathis signing should be dropping soon look out for that.
But he is ours! The Chiefs fans with their five All Black loosies will grumble.
Kid will be guaranteed a spot in the Crusaders 23. Smart move.
Guaranteed a spot? Don't Crusaders have both Tom Christie and Corey Kellow?
Of course he will be. Kid is will quickly surpass those lads.
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@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Crusaders 2026:
@Grooter said in Crusaders 2026:
Oli Mathis signing should be dropping soon look out for that.
But he is ours! The Chiefs fans with their five All Black loosies will grumble.
Kid will be guaranteed a spot in the Crusaders 23. Smart move.
Guaranteed a spot? Don't Crusaders have both Tom Christie and Corey Kellow?
Of course he will be. Kid is will quickly surpass those lads.
@SouthernMann said in Crusaders 2026:
@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Crusaders 2026:
@Grooter said in Crusaders 2026:
Oli Mathis signing should be dropping soon look out for that.
But he is ours! The Chiefs fans with their five All Black loosies will grumble.
Kid will be guaranteed a spot in the Crusaders 23. Smart move.
Guaranteed a spot? Don't Crusaders have both Tom Christie and Corey Kellow?
Of course he will be. Kid is will quickly surpass those lads.
I'm sure he will at some point. My point is I don't agree that it's a guaranteed spot in the 23 in 2026.
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Well, like a said a couple months ago they were pushing really hard for his signature. Big loss for the Chiefs if that ends up happening.
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@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Crusaders 2026:
@Grooter said in Crusaders 2026:
Oli Mathis signing should be dropping soon look out for that.
But he is ours! The Chiefs fans with their five All Black loosies will grumble.
Kid will be guaranteed a spot in the Crusaders 23. Smart move.
Guaranteed a spot? Don't Crusaders have both Tom Christie and Corey Kellow?
Of course he will be. Kid is will quickly surpass those lads.
@SouthernMann said in Crusaders 2026:
@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Crusaders 2026:
@Grooter said in Crusaders 2026:
Oli Mathis signing should be dropping soon look out for that.
But he is ours! The Chiefs fans with their five All Black loosies will grumble.
Kid will be guaranteed a spot in the Crusaders 23. Smart move.
Guaranteed a spot? Don't Crusaders have both Tom Christie and Corey Kellow?
Of course he will be. Kid is will quickly surpass those lads.
Hopefully this comes back to bite me in the years to come, but I don't think he will. He is a magnificent athlete playing the wrong position, but what his right position is, I don't know. He reminds me of Eric Rush.
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@SouthernMann said in Crusaders 2026:
@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Crusaders 2026:
@Grooter said in Crusaders 2026:
Oli Mathis signing should be dropping soon look out for that.
But he is ours! The Chiefs fans with their five All Black loosies will grumble.
Kid will be guaranteed a spot in the Crusaders 23. Smart move.
Guaranteed a spot? Don't Crusaders have both Tom Christie and Corey Kellow?
Of course he will be. Kid is will quickly surpass those lads.
Hopefully this comes back to bite me in the years to come, but I don't think he will. He is a magnificent athlete playing the wrong position, but what his right position is, I don't know. He reminds me of Eric Rush.
@Crazy-Horse said in Crusaders 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Crusaders 2026:
@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Crusaders 2026:
@Grooter said in Crusaders 2026:
Oli Mathis signing should be dropping soon look out for that.
But he is ours! The Chiefs fans with their five All Black loosies will grumble.
Kid will be guaranteed a spot in the Crusaders 23. Smart move.
Guaranteed a spot? Don't Crusaders have both Tom Christie and Corey Kellow?
Of course he will be. Kid is will quickly surpass those lads.
Hopefully this comes back to bite me in the years to come, but I don't think he will. He is a magnificent athlete playing the wrong position, but what his right position is, I don't know. He reminds me of Eric Rush.
Yeah, sort of agree, he'll make a great super player, and be particularly useful off the bench, but seems a bit under sized at 7, and perhaps not quite dynamic enough at outside backs. Will be happy to be wrong, since he's currently one of my favourite young players.
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@SouthernMann said in Crusaders 2026:
@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Crusaders 2026:
@Grooter said in Crusaders 2026:
Oli Mathis signing should be dropping soon look out for that.
But he is ours! The Chiefs fans with their five All Black loosies will grumble.
Kid will be guaranteed a spot in the Crusaders 23. Smart move.
Guaranteed a spot? Don't Crusaders have both Tom Christie and Corey Kellow?
Of course he will be. Kid is will quickly surpass those lads.
Hopefully this comes back to bite me in the years to come, but I don't think he will. He is a magnificent athlete playing the wrong position, but what his right position is, I don't know. He reminds me of Eric Rush.
@Crazy-Horse said in Crusaders 2026:
Hopefully this comes back to bite me in the years to come, but I don't think he will. He is a magnificent athlete playing the wrong position, but what his right position is, I don't know. He reminds me of Eric Rush.
I find it a bit of a strange signing (if true) for this reason: he doesn't strike me as a Crusader loose forward at all. Johnny Lee, on the other hand, looks like he was built specifically for playing for the Crusaders.
So, like you, I don't really know what the plan is here. Both from the Crusaders' perspective as well as that of Mathis. With Savea playing openside at Test level, there's a clear demand for dynamic flankers who have excellent game understanding and the ability to anticipate line breaks and breakdowns. But I'm not sure Mathis will be given that kind of 'freedom' at the Crusaders. Or maybe the Crusaders are trying to get with the times as well?
Should be interesting to see how it plays out.
