34 - 31

36 - 20

21 - 31

45 - 14

19 - 13

36 - 38

28 - 44

31 - 33

26 - 47

21 - 15

40 - 17

38 - 38

43 - 17

31 - 26

17 - 50

32 - 15

54 - 19

27 - 15

33 - 61

WOMENS

46 - 7

41 - 17

45 - 14

38 - 40

59 - 7

59 - 17

28 - 69

WOMENS

26 - 41

27 - 20

31 - 7

33 - 12

WOMENS

15 - 24

26 - 7

27 - 51

17 - 76

35 - 12

24 - 26

Super Rugby Pacific

Leicester Fainga'anuku named to start at flanker for Crusaders

Ned Lester

19 days ago

: Leicester Fainga'anuku of Crusaders looks on during the round eight Super Rugby match between Crusaders and Fijian Drua at Apollo Projects Stadium, on April 03, 2026, in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Crusaders head coach Rob Penney has selected Leicester Fainga’anuku to start at openside flanker against the Waratahs.

The shock selection comes as Braydon Ennor returns from a hamstring injury and is named to start at centre, while impressive rookie Johnny Lee is moved to the bench as loose forward cover.

Fainga’anuku began his professional rugby career as a winger, transitioning to the midfield during his two-year stint in France with Toulon, while progressively earning some late-game minutes in the loose forwards. That trend has continued in the 26-year-old’s return to the Crusaders, where he has been primarily employed in the midfield before featuring at the back of the scrum in the final quarter of recent outings.

VIDEO

This will be Fainga’anuku’s first start in the loose forward trio.

“Leicester’s been keen to explore that opportunity,” said Penney.

“This stadium felt like the right place to do it. He loves big environments, loves pressure moments, and we feel he’ll add real value against this opposition.”

With Super Round bringing all teams except the Western Force (bye week) to Christchurch’s brand-new one New Zealand Stadium, it will be a huge occasion for the home team.

“It’s real beautiful and a great representation of our region. This place has become the heart of the city, and it’s something our people deserve,” said Fainga’anuku.

“From the moment we heard about the new build and what it means to us and our people, it gets you excited,” Fainga’anuku says.

“Now it’s finally here, we’re just ready to get into it and put on a good show.”

The other big news from the team naming is the return of Codie Taylor, who has been named to start at hooker, and Kyle Preston as reserve halfback.

Team Form

Last 5 Games

Wins

Streak

Tries Scored

Points Difference

-36

5/5

First Try

1/5

3/5

First Points

1/5

2/5

Race To 10 Points

2/5

Crusaders team to face the Waratahs

Finlay Brewis
Codie Taylor (VC)
Fletcher Newell
Antonio Shalfoon
Tahlor Cahill
Dom Gardiner
Leicester Fainga’anuku
Christian Lio?Willie
Noah Hotham
Taha Kemara
Macca Springer
David Havili (C)
Braydon Ennor
Sevu Reece
Johnny McNicholl

Reserves

16. George Bell
17. George Bower
18. Seb Calder
19. Jamie Hannah
20. Johnny Lee
21. Kyle Preston
22. Rivez Reihana
23. Dallas McLeod

Injury list

Ethan BLACKADDER, Calf, 1 week
Liam JACK: Hamstring, 1 week
Will JORDAN: Calf, 3-5 weeks
Chay FIHAKI, Hamstring, 4-6 weeks
Will TUCKER: Concussion, GRTP (Graduated Return to Play)
Aki TUIVAILALA: Concussion, GRTP (Graduated Return to Play)
Cullen GRACE: Knee, Unclear
James WHITE: Shoulder, out for the season
Tamaiti WILLIAMS, Discitis, out for the season

Comments

14 Comments

GM 18 days ago

What an insult to genuine loosies in the squad. LF needs game-time at centre to develop his defence and learn how not to give the ball away in contact. I’m not sure who’s playing 7 for the Tahs, but if it’s Charlie Gamble, LF will get eaten alive. Even if he gets a pass mark this weekend, you can’t tell me that LF will ever be a genuine option at 7 in test rugby - someone’s dreaming here and putting a potential test centre’s career at risk.

Utiku Old Boy 17 days ago

Tend to agree. Everybody wants to be Rassie.

JW 18 days ago

You mean wider training group. They are not part of the squad.

learn how not to give the ball away in contact

What better position to do that than in the loosies?

He would have to play a lot more at 7 next year (he would probably be considered the senior 7, esp if Kellow departs) to be considered their for the All Blacks. Is that what you’re trying to say? Agreed.

B 19 days ago

His power on the wing and at centre will suit his physically as an openside flanker…

IMO, he'll get the job done and give NSW a headache trying to contain him…

DC 19 days ago

well who knows how he will go

TokoRFC 19 days ago

Nice, I really like seeing this sort of thing in Super Rugby.

I don’t understand why bench tactics have become stale in Super, time to get humble and look at what the North and SA are doing

johnz 19 days ago

I like the innovative intent - but I’m not sure I’m fully on board. To me, LF is the 13 with the greatest potential upside in the country, but still has a few rinkles to iron out. I’d love to see him given a lot of time there. Sometimes embracing versitality results in a player becoming a jack of all trades, master of none with talent going to waste.

cnw 19 days ago

Agree Toko and good move for ABs to have genuine hybrid - may mean they can go 6-2 or even 7-1.

Tah Man Too 19 days ago

Interesting selection choices - looking forward to seeing how the Tahs go in the new cauldron in Christchurch. Maybe the lack of the nags will be a bad omen for the Saders!

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