Ethan Blackadder to captain Crusaders against Highlanders in Timaru

The Crusaders will roll out two separate XVs when they face the Highlanders in the club’s opening preseason fixture of 2026, with Ethan Blackadder and Rivez Reihana sharing the captaincy duties throughout the afternoon.

A sold-out Timaru crowd awaits the team, with the Crusaders hiring a train to travel Christchurch fans south for the occasion.

The game will feature four 20-minute quarters, with the Crusaders switching teams at halftime. Blackadder will captain the first half, and Reihana will captain the second.

Exciting recent New Zealand U20 products are littered across the matchday squad, with names like Oli Mathis, Manumaua Letiu, Johnny Lee, Cooper Grant and Maloni Kunawave surely eager to offer fans a taste of what’s to come in the years ahead.

Several capped All Blacks are also to feature in the game, with Blackadder joined by Kyle Preston, Braydon Ennor and Dallas McLeod.

The game will be livestreamed on the Crusaders’ YouTube channel.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

1

Draws

0

Wins

4

Average Points scored

17

31

First try wins

80%

Home team wins

80%

First half XV

1. Finlay Brewis
2. Manumaua Letiu
3. Seb Calder
4. Antonio Shalfoon
5. Tahlor Cahill
6. Ethan Blackadder
7. Oli Mathis
8. Johnny Lee
9. Kyle Preston
10. Taha Kemara
11. Kurtis MacDonald
12. Toby Bell
13. Braydon Ennor
14. Chay Fiahaki
15. James White

Second half XV

1. Jack Sexton
2. Tomasi Maka
3. Kershawl Sykes-Martin
4. Xavier Treacy
5. Jamie Hannah
6. Dom Gardiner
7. Corey Kellow
8. Xavier Saifoloi
9. Louie Chapman
10. Rivez Reihana
11. Nic Sauira
12. Dallas McLeod
13. Cooper Grant
14. Jae Broomfield
15. Maloni Kunawave

Reserves

Tonga Helu
Nick Hyde
Gus Brown
Jake Frost
Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo
Mitch Drummond
Isaac Murray-MacGregor