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Ryan Crotty returns to Super Rugby Pacific for 2024 season
Reigning Super Rugby Pacific champions the Crusaders have announced the signing of a familiar face for the 2024 season. Club legend Ryan Crotty has returned from Japan and will don the famous red and black once more next year.
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Crotty looked to wrap up a 10-year Crusaders career back in 2019 when he joined the exodus of players following the Rugby World Cup. Crotty, then aged 31, played the final of his 48 All Blacks Tests at the World Cup, taking the field just three times as the likes of Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown and Sonny Bill Williams demanded minutes in the midfield.
In 2024, the 35-year-old will have the chance to add to his 152 Crusaders caps and help fill the leadership void left by the departures of Sam Whitelock and Richie Mo’unga.
Having fulfilled his contract with the Kubota Spears, Crotty returns to the region and team he calls home.
“I have so much love for this team, it’s hard to put into words how much it means to me,” Crotty said of his return. There was clearly contact between the two parties during the year as Crotty was back in Crusaders colours, training with the team late in the recent season as injuries tested the midfield depth.
Crotty then took the field for Canterbury in the NPC, suiting up nine times in the latter half of the season.
“Japan was great, a really good experience, but it felt like time to come home. Young family life, you know, it’s so precious to spend more time with the kids – they didn’t travel with me to Japan for that last season, so I’m hugely grateful to be here.”
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Crotty brings a wealth of experience to a team beginning something of a new chapter under incoming head coach Rob Penney, moving on from the remarkable success under new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson.
The 2024 team will feature some familiar faces for Crotty, with the likes of Mitch Drummond, Sevu Reece and Codie Taylor all having shared the field with the midfielder. Crotty’s Crusaders debut in 20o9 came before the playing debuts of now assistant coaches Matt Todd and Dan Perrin.
That 2009 debut featured names like Brad Thorn, Kieran Read, Colin Slade and Richie McCaw. Sam Whitelock would only debut the following season.
“Christchurch and the Crusaders are home for me and I’m just really excited to reconnect with some special friends,” he said.
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Rob Penney, Crusaders Head Coach, said Crotty was “a great pro and legend of the club” who will undoubtedly play an important part in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.
“He decided the coals were still burning hot for another campaign, and we were of course very enthusiastic about him coming back into camp,” Penney said.
“His knowledge, his experience, his passion for this place – it’s boundless. He’s been a cornerstone of this place for a long time, helped to form the culture we have here, and is a leader both on and off the field.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Good summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
1 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
8 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
8 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
5 Go to comments