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Familiar face set to return for Crusaders

By Online Editors
Crusaders loose forward Whetukamokamo Douglas. (Photo by Getty Images)

2019 will see the return of a familiar face, with loose forward Whetu Douglas set to rejoin the Crusaders and link up with Mitre 10 Cup side Canterbury, committing to both for the next two seasons.

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The 27-year-old Douglas was called in to the Crusaders as injury last season and had an immediate impact on the team, coaches, and fans alike. He scored three tries in his six matches with the side.

Douglas left New Zealand with his young family following his stint in Super Rugby, to honour a contract with Italian PRO14 side Benetton Treviso.

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Crusaders Head Coach Scott Robertson said after his whirlwind introduction to Super Rugby, the club is thrilled to welcome Douglas back in 2019.

“Whetu was a standout player in our 2017 season. He joined the squad as injury cover, slotted in to our team environment effortlessly and became a crowd favourite very early on,” Robertson said.

“He’s the ultimate team man – humble and hardworking – and he holds great Mana among our group. Whetu has a phenomenal attitude and a real willingness to dig deep for his team mates, so we’re excited to have him commit for the next two seasons, and look forward to having him back in a Crusaders jersey in 2019.”

Douglas represented Waikato from 2013 to 2016 and was named in the Maori All Blacks squad for the first time in 2016, for their end of year tour to Chicago, London and Ireland.

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Douglas said he was looking forward to continuing his career in Christchurch.

“Not only am I excited to be playing in New Zealand and in the Super Rugby competition, I am excited and honoured to be joining the Crusaders and Canterbury for the next two years. The history of excellence in this region I believe, is the best fit for me to reach my full potential as a professional rugby player,” Douglas said.

“I am grateful for this opportunity, and my family and I look forward to joining the Christchurch community soon.”

In other news:

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Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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