Crusaders CEO on the next stage of club's dramatic turnaround

Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge has shared his thoughts on two pivotal factors in his club’s near future, highlighting Christchurch’s new stadium and the potential return of superstar playmaker Richie Mo’unga.

Speaking on the former of those points, the CEO has overseen the process of Te Kaha, aka One New Zealand stadium, being approved and now built.

It’s been a slow process, with the old Lancaster Park out of action since the devastating February 2011 earthquake.

Newstalk ZB‘s weekend sport presenter Jason Pine asked the CEO how excited he was to get into the Crusaders’ new home turf.

“As you asked the question, the prickles on the back of the neck just started to go up again,” Mainsbridge responded.

“It’s just like that, mate. Right at the moment, I’m almost brought to tears, just the excitement. It’s just unbelievable.

“I was talking to the CEO of venues Otautahi, just about planning. If I had boots and the turf was down, I’d be down there, I’m that motivated. I think that’s the way the organisation feels about it, it’s that exciting.

“It’s such an amazing venue, you sit on one side of that venue, you look across to the other side, and I reckon you’ll be able to see cracks and facial features and people on the other side, and I reckon if you’re sitting there a couple of rows back, you’ll feel like you’re in the game, you’re that close to it.

“It’s just an amazing venue.”

The multi-purpose arena is being built to a capacity of 30,000 for sports events, and will boast “acoustics to rival the best arenas globally,” as claimed on the website.

With the completion date of the $683 million stadium on track for April 2026, a Crusaders game will be one one the first events to take place under the roof.

One player who will not be donning the red and black when that day comes is Richie Mo’unga, who has committed to seeing out the remainder of his three-year contract in Japan after speculation that the All Black could return home early.

With the seven-time Super Rugby champion hitting the market for the 2027 season, the leading candidate for his services is none other than his former club. However, that hasn’t stopped speculations and ‘what-ifs’ that question whether a sentimental move could see Mo’unga land in Moana Pasifika colours.

“I think this is his club. If you ask Richie where is he most at home, who are the people he loves most – you’d think I’m doing a sale job on him right now – where does he care about the most, and who has he played 100 games for and all of those things, you’d hope that this is his turangawaewae, this is the place he feels most at home,” Mansbridge said.

“Now, do you take that for granted? No. Do you want to make sure that a guy of his quality and class feels like they can come home? Absolutely.

“It’s a bit like Leicester (Fainga’anuku), he’s back next year, Ryan Crotty came back, Willi Heinz, we do like this to feel like a place that is home and they want to come back to. We’ll do everything in our power to make sure that happens.”