2014 SQUAD NAMING The 2014 Squad Dominic Bird Tyler Bleyendaal Daniel Carter Wyatt Crockett Ryan Crotty Israel Dagg Mitchell Drummond Andy Ellis Corey Flynn Owen Franks Ben Funnell Zac Guildford Willi Heinz Nepo Laulala Rey Lee-Lo Richie McCaw Johnny McNicholl Joe Moody Nemani Nadolo Tim Perry Kieran Read Luke Romano Colin Slade Jordan Taufua Level 1, 5 Durham Street Codie Taylor Sydenham Tom Taylor Christchurch Matt Todd Jimmy Tupou PO Box 755 Adam Whitelock Sydenham George Whitelock Christchurch Luke Whitelock Sam Whitelock DDI: 64 (0)3 379 8300 Jed Brown Kieron Fonotia www.crusaders.co.nz Mike Kainga facebook.com/crusadersrugby Rob Thompson twitter.com/crusadersrugby Nafi Tuitavake TODD BLACKADDER DAVE HEWETT TABAI MATSON AARON MAUGER TODD BLACKADDER POSITION Coach Former All Blacks and Crusaders Captain, Todd Blackadder DATE OF BIRTH 20.09.73 in Rangiora returns for his sixth year as Head Coach of the Crusaders. COACHING ROLES Tasman Coach 2008; Blackadder took on the Crusaders role after playing and Tasman Director of Rugby 2007; Crusaders coaching in Scotland and then taking Tasman to the quarterfinals Technical Assistant 2007; Edinburgh Gunners of New Zealand’s national provincial competition in 2008. Coach 2006; Scotland Assistant Coach He had previously enjoyed an illustrious playing career consisting of 25 All Blacks games including 14 as All Blacks 2004‑05; Edinburgh Forwards Coach 2004‑05. captain; captain of the Crusaders Super Rugby team and the only man to ever lift the Super Rugby trophy three times as captain of the winning team; and captain of the Canterbury provincial team. DAVE HEWETT POSITION Assistant Coach Former All Blacks prop, Dave Hewett, first joined the DATE OF BIRTH 14.07.71 in Christchurch Crusaders coaching team as a Scrum Coach in 2009 and in COACHING ROLES Crusaders Scrum 2010 he was a Technical Advisor – Forwards. He has been Coach 2009; Crusaders Technical Advisor – an Assistant Coach for the last three seasons and his Forwards 2010. expert guidance with the forwards has helped give the Crusaders the reputation of having one of the most efficient scrums in the competition. Hewett played 22 tests for the All Blacks after making his first appearance at age 30. He scored a try on his test debut against Ireland at Dublin in 2001 and played the last of his 22 Tests for New Zealand at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He also played 71 times for the Crusaders, 55 times for the Canterbury provincial team and eight times for South Canterbury. He played 35 games for Edinburgh, under the stewardship of fellow coach Todd Blackadder for 2 years. TABAI MATSON POSITION Assistant Coach Tabai Matson joined the Crusaders coaching team in 2013 DATE OF BIRTH 14.05.73 in Fiji fresh from a season as head coach of Canterbury. He lead the COACHING ROLES Canterbury Head Coach Canterbury team to its fifth successive national provincial 2012, Canterbury Assistant Coach 2009‑2011, title plus set try scoring and defensive records for Canterbury Head Coach Gold Coast Eagles RC 2009, and the ITM Cup. His focus with the Crusaders is on improving Gold Coast Breakers Div 1 Head Coach 2008, the attack play. Matson is also a former All Black, Canterbury and Crusaders University of Queensland Assistant Coach 2007; centre and a Fijian International. Having lived in France, Head Coach Yamaha Rugby Club 2003-2006 England, Japan and Australia for more than ten years, Matson brings a wealth of overseas playing and coaching experience. He would be one of a very few New Zealand Coaches to have the ARU Top Coaching Qualification. AARON MAUGER POSITION Assistant Coach Aaron Mauger was picked up by the Crusaders coaching team DATE OF BIRTH 29.11.80 in Christchurch in 2013 after impressing with the work he did on skills and COACHING ROLES Canterbury Attack attack with the Canterbury provincial team. Coach 2012, High School Old Boys Coach He is another former Canterbury, Crusaders and All Blacks 2011‑2012 player, who made his mark with his ability to find gaps, run outstanding lines, stand his line solidly in defence, pass intelligently to set up his outside players, and kick like a first five – all skills he’ll be aiming to impart on the 2014 Crusaders back line. Throughout his entire career with the Crusaders he managed to rack up over 150 points, dotting down a staggering 22 times, with an additional 10 conversions, two penalties and six drop goals. He played for the All Blacks at second five from 2001 to 2007. DOMINIC BIRD TYLER BLEYENDAAL DANIEL CARTER WYATT CROCKETT DOMINIC BIRD POSITION Lock “A big, tough lock with incredible athleticism. PHYSICAL 2.06m 112kg DATE OF BIRTH 9.4.91at Waipukurau When he stood in for Luke Romano last year he PROVINCE Canterbury was hugely impressive and earned man of the PROVINCIAL CAPS 15 match in his first game. Injury robbed much of PROVINCIAL POINTS 0 PROVINCIAL DEBUT 2011 v Manawatu last year’s campaign from him, but the limited SUPER CAPS 10 game time he had was enough to convince the SUPER POINTS 0 All Blacks selectors to include him in the 2013 SUPER DEBUT 2013 v Blues TEST CAPS 0 end of year tour.” TEST POINTS N/A TEST DEBUT N/A TYLER BLEYENDAAL POSITION First five‑eighth “Really impressed with his form this year and PHYSICAL 1.85m 96kg DATE OF BIRTH 31.5.90 at Christchurch his development through the ITM Cup. He is PROVINCE Canterbury starting to have a massive influence in key PROVINCIAL CAPS 31 games thanks to his intelligent understanding PROVINCIAL POINTS 215 (5t, 44c, 33p, 1d) PROVINCIAL DEBUT 2011 v Wellington of the game, ability to make good decisions and SUPER CAPS 16 consistently good execution of his key roles.” SUPER POINTS 107 (2t, 8c, 27p) SUPER DEBUT 2012 v Blues TEST CAPS 0 TEST POINTS N/A TEST DEBUT N/A DANIEL CARTER POSITION First five‑eighth “One of rugby’s greatest. He is world-class in PHYSICAL 1.78m 94kg DATE OF BIRTH 5.3.82 at Leeston all aspects of his game and will be missed while PROVINCE Canterbury on extended leave this season, but we wish him PROVINCIAL CAPS 27 well and look forward to welcoming him back PROVINCIAL POINTS 289 (12t, 47c, 45p) PROVINCIAL DEBUT 2002 v Marlborough into the fold.” SUPER CAPS 123 SUPER POINTS 1547 (33t, 259c, 277p, 11d) SUPER DEBUT 2003 v Hurricanes TEST CAPS 97 TEST POINTS 1411 (29t, 249c, 250p, 6d) TEST DEBUT 2003 v Wales WYATT CROCKETT POSITION Loosehead prop “An all-round champion. He plays much like a PHYSICAL 1.93m 116 kg DATE OF BIRTH 24.1.83 at Christchurch loose forward so has an impressive work rate. PROVINCE Canterbury He has worked really hard on his scrummaging in PROVINCIAL CAPS 73 recent years and has been awarded with an All PROVINCIAL POINTS 30 (6t) PROVINCIAL DEBUT 2005 v Marlborough Blacks jersey. A good team mate.” SUPER CAPS 122 SUPER POINTS 40 (8t) SUPER DEBUT 2006 v Highlanders TEST CAPS 20 TEST POINTS 5 (1t) TEST DEBUT 2009 v Italy RYAN CROTTY ISRAEL DAGG MITCHELL DRUMMOND ANDY ELLIS RYAN CROTTY POSITION Midfield Back “He is one of the experienced Crusaders now. PHYSICAL 1.81m 91kg DATE OF BIRTH 23.9.88 at Nelson He’s grown a lot as a rugby player and also in PROVINCE Canterbury a leadership role. He earned a well‑deserved PROVINCIAL CAPS 54 call‑up to the All Blacks in 2013 and, having PROVINCIAL POINTS 60 (12t) PROVINCIAL DEBUT 2008 v Otago had a taste of that environment, should be SUPER CAPS 63 looking to come back and really dominate in this SUPER POINTS 50 (10t) campaign.” SUPER DEBUT 2009 v Hurricanes TEST CAPS 1 TEST POINTS 0 TEST DEBUT 2013 v Australia in Sydney ISRAEL DAGG POSITION Fullback “He is a talented player, who also brings a lot PHYSICAL 1.86m 96kg DATE OF BIRTH 6.6.88 at Marton of enthusiasm and personality to the team. His PROVINCE Hawke’s Bay aerial work is fantastic.” PROVINCIAL CAPS 43 PROVINCIAL POINTS 64 (11t, 3c, 1p) PROVINCIAL DEBUT 2006 v Counties Manukau SUPER CAPS 68 SUPER POINTS 213 (24t, 18c, 19p) SUPER DEBUT 2009 v Brumbies (Highlanders) TEST CAPS 35 TEST POINTS 65 (12t, 1c, 1p) TEST DEBUT 2010 v Ireland MITCHELL DRUMMOND POSITION Halfback “This will be his first Super Rugby campaign and PHYSICAL 1.80m 84kg DATE OF BIRTH 15.2.94 is a massive step up for him as he hasn’t played PROVINCE Canterbury a lot of first class rugby. We’ve watched him PROVINCIAL CAPS 1 come through the Canterbury Rugby Academy PROVINCIAL POINTS 0 PROVINCIAL DEBUT 2013 v Manawatu system though and have received excellent SUPER CAPS 0 feedback from his time in the All Blacks Sevens SUPER POINTS N/A environment. We believe he is ready to go and SUPER DEBUT N/A TEST CAPS 0 his game will develop really quickly in this TEST POINTS N/A environment.” TEST DEBUT N/A ANDY ELLIS POSITION Halfback “He is one of the most experienced players in PHYSICAL 1.82m 89 kg DATE OF BIRTH 21.2.84 at Christchurch the squad, but is by no means past his peak. PROVINCE Canterbury He is still consistently performing and still an PROVINCIAL CAPS 73 outstanding leader. He nails his core roles every PROVINCIAL POINTS 84 (15t, 3d) PROVINCIAL DEBUT 2005 v Nelson Bays time and gives confidence to the team.” SUPER CAPS 107 SUPER POINTS 109 (20t, 3d) SUPER DEBUT 2006 v Reds TEST CAPS 26 TEST POINTS 20 (4t) TEST DEBUT 2006 v England COREY FLYNN OWEN FRANKS BEN FUNNELL ZAC GUILDFORD COREY FLYNN POSITION Hooker “He brings a tough edge to our front row.