Read and Havili pen heartfelt letter to Crusaders fans as new stadium opens

A significant chapter in the Crusaders’ history is coming to a close, with the new One New Zealand Stadium, Te Kaha, now open and set to replace Apollo Projects Stadium.

While plenty of excitement is buzzing around the new, roofed stadium, two Crusaders, former captain Kieran Read and current captain David Havili, have penned a heartfelt letter to the Crusaders region, thanking fans for their enduring support through the trying times of the past 14 years.

The temporary 18,600-capacity Apollo Projects stadium, built not of concrete but entirely of scaffolding tubes, was erected two years after the 2011 earthquake that rendered the old Lancaster Park Stadium unsafe for use. That left the Crusaders without a home stadium for those two years, and Christchurch lost all 2011 Rugby World Cup matches scheduled for the city, including two quarter-finals.

15 years and eight Super Rugby titles later, the temporary stadium will host its final match, a Friday night contest against the Fijian Drua, before Super Round officially kicks off a bright new era at Te Kaha.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

3

Draws

0

Wins

2

Average Points scored

35

14

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

80%

In their letter, Read and Havili reflected on the 2011 earthquake, its impact on the region, and how it reshaped the Crusaders’ relationship with their fans.

“As we prepare for our last ever game at Apollo Projects Stadium, we’ve both been thinking a lot about what this place truly means. Fourteen years at a temporary ground is something no one expected, yet it became one of the most defining periods in Crusaders history – shaped by the unwavering loyalty of the people who filled it.

“Kieran here. Whenever I think about Apollo Projects Stadium, my mind goes back to 22 February 2011. I was sitting in Merivale Mall with Richie McCaw, about to eat lunch, when the earthquake hit, and the world around us suddenly changed. The ground shook, alarms rang out, and everything felt uncertain. It was a moment when rugby didn’t matter. Our city was hurting deeply, 185 lives had been lost, and our focus was simply on our people.

“A few days later, we’d all reached the same realisation. Rugby wasn’t just our job; it was something we could offer people who had lost so much. We knew we couldn’t rebuild homes, but we could try lift spirits. That became our purpose for the 2011 season on the road. Every time we pulled on the jersey, we felt the weight and the privilege of what Crusaders rugby meant to people watching from living rooms across a broken region.

“And then came 2012. Word spread that a temporary stadium was being built to bring us home. When I led the team out on 24 March for that first game back, 680 days since Christchurch had hosted a Super Rugby match, the roar from the crowd felt like our city’s heartbeat returning. The place wasn’t fancy, but it reflected exactly who we were. A team and a city piecing themselves back together.

“And that’s where you – our fans – come in. You didn’t just show up, you arrived with hope and belief. You filled those stands every week, even when the weather was doing its best to scare you off. Your loyalty shaped generations that followed.

“David here. I was one of the young guys coming through when Kieran was leading the team. I saw firsthand how much those early years at Apollo Projects Stadium meant. I remember how cold the wind felt ripping through the place, I know the choice you made every time you walked through those gates, but you still turned up no matter what. It helped me understand what you have carried this team through.

“Over the years, as I’ve become a leader myself, I’ve realised we aren’t defined by trophies or titles – we’re defined by our people. I’ve carried that with me, season after season, and as captain now I feel it more strongly than ever. Seeing you on the field after matches, seeing families share moments that will be remembered for a lifetime, has been one of the great privileges of my career.

“This stadium wasn’t meant to last fourteen years. But it became our home because you made it one. You turned a temporary scaffold structure into one of the most intimidating atmospheres in Super Rugby, and you always reminded us who we were playing for. As we step into our new home at One New Zealand Stadium soon, there’s excitement about what’s ahead. A new era for our city, which reflects how far Christchurch has come. But before we get there, we want to address you – the fans who stood with us through everything – and say thank you.

“Thank you for showing up with certainty, even when the world around us felt anything but.

“Thank you for giving us hope and giving us something to play for.

“Thank you for turning this temporary place into a permanent part of our identity.

“But most importantly, thank you for being our constant. It means more than words can ever express.

“For one last time, we’ll run out at Apollo Projects Stadium this Friday night to write the last chapter of the past 14 years. We’d love to have you with us.”