Exclusive: An open letter from Wyatt Crockett
After 71 tests and 1 match for the All Blacks, Wyatt Crockett has called time on his international career. Here, in a RugbyPass Exclusive, he tells us why he is stepping down from the All Blacks and how thankful he is to have worn the most famous jersey in the game. And he has some other news, too.
It is never an easy thing to know when the time is right. Since 2009 I have worn the All Blacks jersey with immense pride and gratitude, but for much longer than that I had dreamed of one day having that chance. Late last year, in consultation with my wife and family, we decided to start a new chapter of our lives, one that allows us to spend more time together.
Early in the New Year I made a call to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and informed him of my decision to make myself unavailable for national selection. I would like to thank him for his understanding and his encouragement. Steve has been a constant for me in the All Blacks. For as long as I have been there, so has he. To him, and to all of the All Blacks management and family, I say thank you for every opportunity to represent my country and my family, and to live out a childhood dream. I hope I have repaid your faith.
I was raised in Golden Bay, at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, and I could not have wished for a more idyllic childhood. My parents were incredibly supportive of me and instilled in me the values of hard work and determination – values I hope I have lived and demonstrated to others, especially when things didn’t quite go to plan. It takes plenty of hard work and determination to become part of any great team, and without the support and guidance from my parents, and from my wife Jenna’s parents, I don’t know if I could have done it. To Murray, Lynda, Mum and Dad, thanks a million.
When Rob Penney called me 17 years ago to ask if I’d like to come down to Christchurch and train with the Canterbury Academy under the guidance of Mike Cron, I packed my bags and off I went. It was in preparation for the third NZ under-19 trial and while I was no rising star, I was prepared to give it everything I had. Only by giving everything could I have hoped to make the teams I had dreamed of playing for.
One of those teams was, of course, the Crusaders. To Robbie Deans, Todd Blackadder and Scotty Robertson, thank you for allowing me to be a part of such a wonderful side for so many years. Thanks also to everyone involved in this great franchise; I’ve seen first-hand how much the team, management, staff, board and fans care about our team and how hard they are prepared to work for it. I was happy to play just one game. To know now that no one has played more – yet – makes me feel enormously proud and immensely grateful. To have won three titles with the Crusaders has been a dream come true, and I can assure you that my focus is very much on winning a fourth this season.
I am also indebted to all those who have supported me at provincial level at Canterbury. Rob Penney, the man who brought me down to Canterbury, was also the first to give me a crack in the red and black hoops. He believed in me then, and has been a constant mentor and friend ever since. To all the coaches and support staff, the families and the volunteers who helped me in my provincial career and who continue to make provincial rugby strong, I say many thanks indeed. While many may think that provincial rugby has slid down the pecking order, I disagree. I was honoured to wear the Canterbury jersey and I hope that every player who gets the chance in the future understands the importance of the game at local level, and the legacy that they are adding too.
On that note, I have something else to announce. As of this year I will, for the first time, play for a different provincial team. I have signed to play for the Tasman Mako for the next two seasons and am excited to give back to the province of my youth. I know that I go with Canterbury’s blessing and will arrive with a great desire to play well and to contribute to a team that has done great things in NZ rugby since its formation in 2006.
I will also be arriving with my own team, having made the decision to move to Nelson so as to be closer to both my immediate family and my wife Jenna’s family. We want to enjoy the lifestyle that this amazing region has to offer, and to give our boys the childhood that we were both lucky enough to have.
I want my team mates to know how much I have appreciated their support, friendship, encouragement and camaraderie over many years, and I also would like to acknowledge all those men I have played against at international and Super Rugby level. I know I will still lock horns with many of you in the upcoming season. For those of you against whom I have now played my last, I hope I was a worthy competitor and that I won your respect. Respect, after all, is the foundation of this game I love so much.
Finally, and on the subject of love, to my beautiful and incredible wife Jenna and to my two amazing boys Sonny and Emmett, I have no idea how to repay you for allowing me the opportunity to do what I love doing all these years. It has taken me away from you for long periods of time and yet you have never wavered in your love and dedication. Perhaps the best way I can repay you is by being there, which is what this decision will allow me to do.
Thanks everyone, and here’s to the 2018 Crusade.
Crocky
Comments on RugbyPass
The rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
75 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to comments