Crusaders in talks with NZ sprint prodigy following Olympics snub
The Crusaders have entered talks with New Zealand sprint star Eddie Osei-Nketia over a potential career in rugby following his Tokyo Olympics snub.
RugbyPass can reveal the Christchurch-based franchise has spoken to Osei-Nketia’s management team about the possibility of a cross-code move in the wake of the 20-year-old’s high-profile exclusion from New Zealand’s Olympic track and field team.
Osei-Nketia was one of many track and field athletes who were controversially excluded from the New Zealand squad named to compete at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
While Osei-Nketia failed to meet the Olympic qualification standard time of 10.05s, an overhaul of the qualifying system for Tokyo 2020 meant athletes could qualify through a combination of performances and world rankings.
Following a season where he ran a personal best time of 10.12s in Brisbane four months ago – leaving him just 0.01s shy of the New Zealand record, held by his father Gus – Osei-Nketia had qualified for the Olympics under World Athletics’ Road to Tokyo rankings.
However, the New Zealand Olympic Committee [NZOC] denied Osei-Nketia a place in the Olympic squad as he claims, under NZOC selection policy, they didn’t see him as a contender to finish in the top 16 in his event.
Speaking to RugbyPass from Canberra, Osei-Nketia said the NZOC’s decision to exclude him from the Olympic squad left him “devastated”, “shocked”, “betrayed”, “hurt”, “frustrated” and “angry” as he surveys his options for the future.
Among the possibilities being considered is a switch to rugby union, a prospect Osei-Nketia has been vocal about ever since he burst onto the scene after claiming the New Zealand and Australian 100m titles in convincing fashion as a 17-year-old in 2019.
Asked whether he has fielded any interest from within rugby circles in the wake of his Olympics snub, Osei-Nketia revealed his manager has been in contact with the Crusaders.
“Last week, my manager told me that the Crusaders were actually keen on me and he said that Scott Robertson wanted to have a chat with me,” Osei-Nketia told RugbyPass.
“I haven’t heard from him yet, but I’m assuming he’s a busy guy. I haven’t heard anything, yet, from anyone else.”
A spokesperson for the Crusaders confirmed the franchise has entered “preliminary discussions” with Osei-Nketia’s management about developing the youngster’s athletic talents in a “high-performance rugby environment”.
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“I can confirm Eddie’s management team reached out to the Crusaders about his desire, having missed out on Olympic selection, to pursue a professional career in rugby,” the Crusaders spokesperson told RugbyPass.
“These were preliminary discussions to explore what opportunities and pathways are available to Eddie, to fulfil his athletic potential within a high performance rugby environment.
“However, these conversations have not extended to the possibility of bringing Eddie to the Crusaders, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to comment further.”
While nothing about Osei-Nketia’s rugby-playing future is set in stone, he said it would be a dream to play for the Crusaders.
“I’ve actually been thinking about it a lot, wearing the red and playing down in Christchurch in the cold,” he said.
“It’d be a massive honour to play for one of the best teams of all-time in Super Rugby, helping them out and being a part of the Christchurch community.”
However, Osei-Nketia is aware of the difficulties that would come with a move to rugby and conceded he would have to fully devote himself to the sport if he is to suit up for the reigning Super Rugby Aotearoa champions.
“But, in order for me to play for the Crusaders, I need to get there first. I need to work hard, I need to grind hard, and I just need to be on top.
“I need to be studying the game. I need to make sure that I’m always studying and putting my mind on small things so I can get there one day.”
Osei-Nketia said he believes the facilities on offer at the Crusaders could help transform him into an “elite rugby player”.
“It looks like a pretty elite academy that can transfer rugby players to elite rugby players. If I go through the academy, I believe that I could change into a very, very talented rugby player. That’s what I think.”
This isn’t the first time a Kiwi rugby outfit has shown interest in Osei-Nketia, as New Zealand Rugby [NZR] invited him to attend their Red Bull Ignite Sevens event in a non-playing capacity two years ago.
The All Blacks have named a 36-man squad featuring the return of many key players ahead of next month’s Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship series. #AllBlacks #BledisloeCup #RugbyChampionshiphttps://t.co/uedZ2Bfeg3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 18, 2021
The then-teenager, who stood at 1.90m and 95kg, left NZR officials in awe of his physical and athletic prowess.
“I’ve never seen an athlete with those genetics, ever,” NZR’s high performance sevens talent ID manager PJ Williams said at the time.
“He is 99 percent fast twitch muscle fibre. I’ve never seen an athlete [like Osei-Nketia] walk through our doors in rugby, ever. And we probably never will see one again.”
Osei-Nketia’s coach Gary Henley-Smith told RugbyPass in January that the sprinter remains “under the radar of New Zealand Rugby” and that a move to rugby is something that is commonly spoken about between the pair.
At the time, Osei-Nketia added that he would wait until after the Olympics before making a decision on his rugby future, but now he says he is “open to anything” after feeling disenchanted by the NZOC.
“Honestly, man, I’m open to anything at this point. I’m open to maybe switching careers, in the pathway down, start a new beginning. Hopefully I can find a rugby team that can sharpen up my skills and hopefully we’ll see how far I can get.”
In addition to his appearance at the 2019 Red Bull Ignite Sevens, Osei-Nketia’s rugby experience extends back to his time at St Edmund’s College in Canberra, where he was schooled before moving to Scots College in Wellington.
He told RugbyPass earlier this year that he averaged “two to three” tries per match while playing schoolboy rugby in the Australian capital, although he didn’t get the chance to play for Scots College as his athletics career took off.
After a lengthy hiatus from the footy field, Osei-Nketia said he has the backing of his sprint coaches to switch to the oval ball code as a result of the NZOC’s stance on his involvement at the Olympics.
“After what happened, I think they don’t care what’s best for me,” Osei-Nketia said of the NZOC. “Stuff like this happens and it affects my career. Wherever I succeed the most, they [his coaches] will be happy.”
Before any cross between codes takes place, though, Osei-Nketia will watch the Olympics, which officially begins on Friday, from afar and support those who have been selected to represent New Zealand in Tokyo.
“Let’s hope that we can get gold. I’ll be keeping a good eye on the All Blacks Sevens. The All Blacks Sevens will come in the top three, I reckon,” Osei-Nketia said. “Go the Kiwis.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to comments