Scarlets pluck another loose forward from Crusaders

Cullen Grace has called time on his Crusaders career after seven seasons at Rugby Park, making the move north to join Scarlets.

Grace has played across the back row, with the odd showing at lock, in 68 Crusaders appearances, and has been selected in three of the club’s recent final wins, including a start at No.8 against the Blues in 2022. That win at Eden Park saw Sam Whitelock credit Grace for his influence in the Crusaders’ dismantling of the Blues’ lineout, a major factor in the win.

The 26-year-old missed the 2026 season with a knee injury he sustained during Canterbury’s 2025 NPC campaign, having started in both the Maori All Blacks‘ win over Japan XV and three-point loss to Scotland this time last year.

Grace leaves New Zealand with one All Blacks cap to his name from a Bledisloe Cup Test in 2020.

“I was just a teenager when I came into this environment, so I’ve grown a lot both on and off the field in my time here. Red and black will always be a part of my life, and I’ll miss this place and the people here the most, but I’m excited for this move,” he said.

“Scarlets is a very proud rugby club with a great history and tradition and that was something that really appealed to me. It is a challenge I am really looking forward to and I can’t wait to get started.”

Looking ahead to his next chapter, Grace is to link up with ex-Crusaders teammate Fletcher Anderson in Llanelli, who has just enjoyed a breakout year with the club, making the third-most carries in the competition and completing the 10th-most tackles.

Once the youngest contracted Kiwi in Super Rugby, Grace will complete the upcoming NPC season with Canterbury before making the move to Wales.

Scarlets interim Director of Rugby Nigel Davies said: “When we looked at the profile of player we wanted to bring into the club, Cullen stood out immediately. He is a proven performer, but what really impressed us was the person behind the player.

“When you speak to people who have worked with him, the same themes keep coming up – professionalism, competitiveness, leadership and a genuine desire to improve every day. Those qualities are hugely important to us as we continue to build our environment and drive standards across the programme.

“He comes from a culture where winning, accountability and continuous improvement are simply expected. That experience is incredibly valuable and something that will benefit not only our team on the field but also the players around him.

“At 26, Cullen is entering the prime years of his career. He has already achieved a huge amount in the game, but we believe there is still plenty more to come. We are delighted he has chosen to join Scarlets, and I know our supporters will be excited by what he can bring to our jersey.”

Grace’s departure from the Crusaders comes after the club’s captain, David Havili, confirmed his exit earlier in the week. The club has also lost the services of Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod and Sevu Reece, with the marquee signing of Richie Mo’unga helping offset the All Black exodus ahead of 2027.