Crusaders' 2024 bronco king talks preseason, Dupont and mentorship

New Crusaders recruit Kyle Preston made an immediate impression in Super Rugby preseason with a team-best effort in the notorious bronco, although his time was still a few seconds shy of a personal best.

The rookie halfback clocked an impressive time of four minutes and 16 seconds, just four ticks off the All Blacks record set by Beauden Barrett and equalled by Cam Roigard earlier in 2024.

Preston, fresh off an NPC title campaign with the Wellington Lions, set the fastest of all the Kiwi Super Rugby bronco times revealed so far.

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“I’ve done a quicker one in the Lions, I got 4:13,” he told reporters at Rugby Park in Christchurch.

The 25-year-old couldn’t say who owned the team’s next best time.

“To be fair, I don’t actually know. I just run my race and don’t worry about what’s around me.”

Preston said his first few weeks in camp have been made easy by ultra-welcoming staff and players alike and he’s settling into Christchurch life well.

The preseason to date has differed from his experiences with Wellington in the past, with much more time to dedicate to preparing for the 2025 campaign.

“With NPC, you don’t get much of a preseason because it’s pretty much a sprint race, you finish club rugby and you’re straight into NPC. So, it’s definitely a longer period through the Super Rugby preseason which gives the boys an opportunity to get ready.

“We’ve been in the gym doing grappling stuff, wrestling, a bit of boxing here and there and a little bit of focus on breathwork and controlling your breathing and how that can be a big part of our game.”

Individually, Preston is setting out some clear goals for his debut Super Rugby season.

“A big one is probably the leadership side of it. Being new into the professional space, you’re able to soak up a lot from the older boys and the boys with experience, so making the most of the opportunity with those guys around like (Micthell) Drummond, he’s got a lot of experience so soaking up as much as I can from him and being able to step in, bringing my style where I can.”

He went on to say Drummond has quickly proven to be a great teammate and mentor.

“He’s an awesome dude. I can go to him and ask him questions after trainings on anything; moves, personal life, he’s just a good fella. So, I just pick his brain around little skillsets, kicking, passing, little drills I can pick up from him.”

Having competed in the wider Hurricanes training group in recent years, Preston has lined up against the likes of TJ Perenara but also Cam Roigard and Jordi Viljoen, so is used to stiff competition with fellow youngsters.

“It’s a similar situation, although a little bit different with Drummy, who’s obviously got a bit more experience. He’s a bit older, whereas Cam (Roigard) is still in his early 20s, so is Jordi Viljoen and obviously here with Noah (Hotham) as well. But I think you get the best of both worlds with a young, energetic nine in Noah and then Drummy, who’s got a lot of experience and knowledge that I can take on.

“I think we get the best of all the best aspects of a nine so that’s going to help all of our games really. We can continue to push each other through the preseason and compete with each other, that’s where we’ll get heaps of growth.”

If you’re thinking a Kiwi halfback with the surname of Preston sounds familiar, Kyle confirmed he is yet to meet former All Black Jon Preston, but there is a family connection.

“I’ve had that (question) a lot. We’re not officially (related), so my dad’s adopted and obviously got the name Preston, so apparently down the line somewhere there’s some connection.

“My old agent, he’s close with Jon Preston so said he’d hook us up at some point for a coffee or a catch-up.”

In a rugby world that features superstars like Antoine Dupont and Jamison Gibson-Park redefining the No.9 jersey with more of a running game and more freedom to be a playmaker for their sides, Preston says it’s an exciting time to be a halfback.

“We’re slowly getting into more running nines with bigger bodies who can bust tackles, make linebreaks and that’s definitely where the game’s heading I think.

“I think I bring a little bit of a different aspect to that, not so much making the original linebreaks and things like that but being able to get in support and being off people’s shoulders for the last pass to finish it off.”