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New Zealand Rugby make decision on Crusaders name change

By Online Editors
The Crusaders' home ground, Christchurch Stadium. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

By NZ Herald

New Zealand Rugby chairman Brent Impey has confirmed the Crusaders will not be changing their name in 2020.

The Crusaders had been weighing up a name change since the Christchurch terrorist attack in March, but Impey today told Jim Kayes on Radio Sport that nothing would be changing next season.

“The reality is that adidas have got to make jerseys, there’s merchandising and that sort of stuff,” Impey told Radio Sport. “You can’t just change the name of a professional team when there are existing contracts.

“So definitely not. There’s no intention and never has been any intention that the Crusaders name would change in 2020.”

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Impey said a process was still in place to determine if the name would be changed long term.

“The process regarding the Crusaders name is setup, there’s a sub-committee of the New Zealand board working with the Crusaders board, to see which of the two options will be chosen – either a rebranded Crusaders name or a new name. There’s a process underway to do that, we don’t need to rush it.

“But they will be the Crusaders in 2020.”

New Zealand Rugby committed to changing the team’s contentious imagery and employed a research company to assess the merits of a name change following the March 15 mosque shootings which claimed 50 lives.

The Crusaders name, which they have held since Super Rugby began in 1996, winning a record nine championships along the way, has become a source of public contention as it was the title given to Christian armies who fought against Muslims early in the last millennium.

In March, New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said passionate feedback had been heard on both sides of the debate but clearly the imagery of knights, horsemen and swords couldn’t be ignored for its negative connotations. Tew said Research First would consider two options for the 2020 season: retaining the Crusaders name but changing the branding and undertaking a complete rebranding.

This article first appeared on RugbyPass.com/nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission

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Bull Shark 40 minutes 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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