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The Crusaders are a professional rugby team from New Zealand who compete in the annual Super Rugby Championship. Over the years they have become renowned for their aggressive tactics and thrilling style of play which has won them five Super Rugby titles to date – making them one of the most successful teams in Super Rugby history.
Led by experienced internationals such as Sam Whitelock, Kieran Read, Codie Taylor and Richie Mo’unga, they’re aiming to take home another title this season. The Crusaders are currently ranked 5th in the 2023 Super Rugby season.
On this page we’ll take a closer look at the Crusaders Rugby Team: https://rugbyunion.nz/super-rugby/.
The Crusaders Rugby Team is based in Christchurch, New Zealand. They play their home matches at Orangetheory Stadium, formerly known as AMI Stadium.
What are the team’s colours and mascot?
The Crusaders have a classic red and black colour scheme with their logo featuring a stylised sword symbol. Their mascot, Crusader Sam, adorns their jersey and can be seen cheering on fans during each match.
The Crusaders have a number of talented stars that make up their roster such as Sam Whitelock, Kieran Read, Codie Taylor and Richie Mo’unga. All four players are All Blacks – one of rugby’s most successful national teams.
An interesting fact about The Crusaders is that they are the most successful team in Super Rugby history, having won the title five times (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2017). This is a testament to their hard work and dedication, and one of many reasons why they are such an exciting team to watch.
The Crusaders have had a lot of success throughout their time in Super Rugby, having won the title five times as well as having reached nine semi-finals and seven quarter-finals since their inception in 1996.
They also hold an impressive winning record against all other New Zealand teams, making them one of the most successful teams in the league.
The Crusaders were founded in 1996 and are one of the newer teams in Super Rugby, but have quickly become one of the most successful teams in the competition.
The Crusaders bring a physical and tactical style of play that has made them a favourite among Super Rugby fans. With experienced players such as Sam Whitelock, Kieran Read, Codie Taylor, and Richie Mo’unga leading the charge, the Crusaders are sure to put on a show each game, making for an entertaining display regardless of their opponent.
The Crusaders are owned by a collective of Christchurch-based private investors.
The Crusaders play their home matches at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand and some away matches which are televised around the world.
Fans can also follow their progress on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest news and updates from the team.
The Crusaders’ biggest rivals are the Hurricanes from Wellington, New Zealand. The two teams have faced off numerous times with varying results.
The club was formed in 1996 as one of five founding members of the Super 12/14/15 format, and has gone on to become one of the most successful clubs in the history of Super Rugby.
The Crusaders were originally known as the Canterbury Crusaders, coming from the province of Canterbury, which is one of New Zealand’s traditional provinces and home to many top players from across the country.
They had a successful period during the 2000s, with five appearances in six years in the Super 12 finals and back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006. They also won their third title in 2008, which made them the most successful team ever to have competed in the Super Rugby competition.
The team continued its success into the 2010s with four more consecutive finals appearances from 2011 to 2014, culminating in two further championship titles in 2017 and 2018.
Off the field, the Crusaders are one of New Zealand’s most respected clubs thanks to their strong commitment to community engagement and charity work throughout Christchurch and New Zealand. From running blood drives to launching school programs and offering the Crusaders Rugby Academy, the club has established itself as a key part of Christchurch’s sporting landscape and one of the country’s most successful teams.
The current list of players on The Crusaders include:
The current coach of The Crusaders is Scott Robertson, who has been with the team since 2017.
The Crusaders Rugby Team is actively involved in a number of charitable initiatives, both locally and nationally. One of their most notable efforts is the ‘Crusaders Cares’ program. This initiative sees The Crusaders provide much needed support to those in need throughout New Zealand.
This includes supporting vulnerable families, children’s charities, refugee programmes and more. Most recently they have been providing meals to those affected by COVID-19 in Christchurch and other areas around New Zealand.
In addition to this, The Crusaders also have numerous partnerships with local businesses and organisations that help further their work within the community, such as Massey University’s College of Education, who work closely with The Crusaders to run school-based programs focusing on learning and resilience. The Crusaders have also taken part in a number of fundraising activities such as their annual ‘Crusader Cup’ charity golf day, which they use to raise funds for local charities and good causes.