Crusaders 2026
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Up date in the 2026 squad
Hookers
C Taylor, G Bell, M LetuiProps
G Bower,K Sykes-Martin
F Newell,T Williams, S CalderLocks
S Barrett,T Cahill,J Hannah
A Shalfoon,L JackLoose Forwards
C Kellow,O Mathis, E Blackadder
D Gardiner,Savier Saifoloi
C Lilo-WillieHBs
N Hotham,K Preston
First Fives
T kemera,R Reihana,
Centres
D Havilli,D McLeod
L Fainga’anuku,B EnnorWings
S Reece,M Springer,
C Fihaki, Aki TuivailalaFBs
W Jordan,J McNicoll. -
@Chris So five more required?
A prop, a halfback, a first five, another loosie and probably another midfield back.
Maybe they go back to Brewis again.
I expect Louie Chapman (Drummond again a possibility, but I doubt it).
James White I'd imagine. Reihana and Kemara have enough experience now that we hopefully don't need an old shepherd like O'Çonnor.
Cullen Grace just not signed yet or more to the story that I've missed. Fletcher Anderson and Johnny Lee decent alternatives.
Can't think of a midfield option offhand?
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2026:
@Chris So five more required?
A prop, a halfback, a first five, another loosie and probably another midfield back.
Maybe they go back to Brewis again.
I expect Louie Chapman (Drummond again a possibility, but I doubt it).
James White I'd imagine. Reihana and Kemara have enough experience now that we hopefully don't need an old shepherd like O'Çonnor.
Cullen Grace just not signed yet or more to the story that I've missed. Fletcher Anderson and Johnny Lee decent alternatives.
Can't think of a midfield option offhand?
I think Brewis and Grace will be signed and Aki Tuivailala may still get signed.
Leaves a HB ,First Five and another, Fletcher Anderson I am unsure of as last year they had 8 Loose Forewards.
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@Grooter the reshuffle in the 9s for Canterbury this season looks to be a sign that they'd prefer Chapman to take that third spot at the Crusaders over Shearer. Shearer is a live wire, and has had a good start to the season, but Chapman is probably a better fit for the 3rd halfback spot.
Shearer is definitely going to latch on to a Wider Training Group somewhere, though.
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@BellsGeorg said in Crusaders 2026:
@Grooter the reshuffle in the 9s for Canterbury this season looks to be a sign that they'd prefer Chapman to take that third spot at the Crusaders over Shearer. Shearer is a live wire, and has had a good start to the season, but Chapman is probably a better fit for the 3rd halfback spot.
Shearer is definitely going to latch on to a Wider Training Group somewhere, though.
Chapman is the Fav for that position.
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I’ve heard similar - Drummond unlikely to be back, unless there’s an injury crisis. Finished with 150 appearances and has business interests. Nothing left to prove.
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I have heard Drummond has been offered a WTG contract which he has taken. By all accounts, Chapman has the third halfback spot
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I also was informed that there are a few back ended deals where younger players are signed for multiple years meaning that there are no new Crusaders contracts available until 2027? Unsure the accuracy around this, but would mean that the Saders have to pay players out to move them on
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@Fredsaua12 said in Crusaders 2026:
I also was informed that there are a few back ended deals where younger players are signed for multiple years meaning that there are no new Crusaders contracts available until 2027? Unsure the accuracy around this, but would mean that the Saders have to pay players out to move them on
There were 6 full contracts available to replace the leaving players of course
Christie
O'Connor,
Moananu
Strange
Amua
and Drummonds spot as he was at end of contract. -
@Fredsaua12 said in Crusaders 2026:
I have heard Drummond has been offered a WTG contract which he has taken. By all accounts, Chapman has the third halfback spot
Your info more up to date than mine
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Crusaders are previewing a signing to be announced at 7.30 AM tomorrow on their socials.
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The comments are suggesting a return of Pablo Matera. Could carry some truth as the loose forward mix is still open. Blackadder, Lio-Willie, Gardiner and Saifoloi already signed. Grace, Kellow, and Anderson seemingly at the end of their contracts and Christie departing. Suggestions that Mathis is replacing Christie and I would expect to see Grace and Kellow returning so potentially Matera in for Anderson
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@cgrant said in Crusaders 2026:
Mathis has not the required physique for a SR loose forward. He is not even big for a wing. Kellow and Johnny Lee should fill Christie's shoes for the openside.
I think Mathis will be fine. Most NZ players bulk up between the ages of 20 and 22, and I presume it’ll be no different with Mathis. Players like Papali’i and Jacobson were also twigs at 20 and they turned out fine.
The thing with Mathis that makes me relatively confident that he can hack it amongst the forwards at the next level is the fact that he seems to have a good rugby brain. His body control, anticipation and technical execution in contact are consistently excellent. Very rarely you see Mathis with his head or feet in the wrong position which, I think, is a good sign for further development. The physical stuff will come with age.
My guess is that Blackadder and Kellow (if contracted) will be the two first-choice flankers next season, with Mathis probably being looked at as an interesting bench option for some games. Lee is another good prospect at loose forward (very different to Mathis but a very typical Crusader flanker), who you'd think is likely to get a SR contract either the coming year or the one after.
