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Quinten Strange to lead Crusaders during historic Northern Tour
Tasman Mako lock Quinten Strange will lead the Crusaders during their Northern Tour when the reigning Super Rugby champions come up against Munster and the Bristol Bears next month.
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The Crusaders flew to Europe on Friday morning ahead of their first matches outside of New Zealand, Australia and Fiji since 2019.
Munster will host the visitors on a historic matchday in Cork on February 3, with traditional Gaelic Football venue Pairc Ui Chaoimh as the setting for this unique rugby challenge.
That match will pit the best team in the southern hemisphere – the Crusaders have won seven Super Rugby titles in as many years – against the defending United Rugby Championship winners.
The following week, English Premiership side the Bristol Bears will take on Rob Penney’s side at Ashton Gate Stadium on Friday, February 9.
“We’re very excited to get over there, the team is buzzing,” Head Coach Rob Penney said in a statement.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to connect before the 2024 season properly starts, and to test ourselves against some mighty opponents.
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“Travelling together, lining up against some big names in front of some big crowds, it’ll be huge for us in our prep.”
Pairc Ui Chaoimh will host a rugby union match for just the second time. The clash between Munster and the Crusaders is expected to draw in 40,885 supporters.
The match pits one of the world’s best northern hemisphere sides against the champions from down south. Munster defeated the Stormers in last year’s URC final – a competition between Irish, Italian, Scottish, South African and Welsh sides.
“The fact that Pairc Ui Chaoimh is hosting Munster Rugby game for just the second time adds to the sense of occasion and allows for a wider audience to witness the landmark event,” Flanagan said.
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“We have a rich history against touring sides and they are special for the club and our supporters, we’re really looking forward to welcoming the world-renowned Crusaders to Munster.”
The Crusaders will create more headlines against the Bears – playing at the same venue the All Blacks defeated Tonga at during the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol is also a host venue for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Bristol Sport Group CEO, Gavin Marshall, said it would be “an historic occasion for the city” to host the champion Crusaders next month.
“Everybody at Bristol Bears is hugely excited to be welcoming the Crusaders to Bristol next month,” Marshall discussed.
“We’re also seeing the excitement within our fanbase, with tickets selling at an impressive rate and on course for another bumper crowd at Ashton Gate.
“TH unique nature of this fixture is also appealing to rugby fans across the country, and the expat community, as we prepare to host one of the greatest club sides on the planet.”
New Zealanders can watch the Crusaders versus Munster live on Sky Sport 2. The match will get underway at 6 am. TG4 will cover the match in Ireland.
Crusaders versus Bristol won’t be broadcast on Sky.
Crusaders’ Northern Tour 2024 Travelling Squad
George Bell, Josh Southall, Ioane Moananu, George Bower, Owen Franks, Sebastian Calder, Ryan Coxon, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Angus Brown, Jamie Hannah, Quinten Strange (c), Liam Jack, Taylor Cahill, Antonio Shalfoon, Fletcher Anderson, Dominic Gardiner, Corey Kellow, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Cullen Grace, Mitchell Drummond, Willi Heinz, Noah Hotham, Taha Kermara, Rivez Reihana, Taine Robinson, Ryan Crotty, Dallas McLeod, Jone Rova, Levi Aumua, Manasa Mataele, Heremaia Murray, Macca Springer, Chay Fihaki, Jack Gray, Leigh Halfpenny
Comments on RugbyPass
Bit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
35 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to comments