NEWSLETTER 3

  JUNE 2009

 

 

Well the Crusaders season is over for another year, and what a season it has been for the red and blacks. The team made it to the final 4. A feat that 10 other teams didn’t manage and when you look at the injuries and non returning players from last season, they deserve a big congratulations on getting to the final 4.  They had a very hard opposition in the Bulls especially in South Africa, but were certainly not disgraced in their game against them.

A lot of new talent has emerged and the likes of Ryan Crotty and Colin Slade have a big future ahead of them in the game if they can continue the form they have shown throughout the competition.

We wish Leon McDonald and his family all the best in their new venture in Japan. Rangi has been a long and faithful servant of Canterbury rugby, and who knows if he might be seen in  red and black again.

The Air New Zealand Cup is due to start at the beginning of August, with 7 home games at Jade Stadium, so mark these dates on your calendar now and come along to the park and support the boys.  An added bonus this year will be that Dan Carter is also playing in this competition.  Another ex Canterbury player Tabai Matson is back as the Assistant Coach and along with Rob Penney will be marshalling the troops this season.

Congratulations to Wyatt Crockett, Kieran Reid, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, George Whitelock and Owen Franks for their selection in the All Blacks squad for the Iveco series.  They were certainly well deserved and a couple of other players were unlucky to miss out.  With a long All Back season ahead we may yet see more Canterbury names in the AB squad.

 

 2009 AIR NEW ZEALAND CUP DRAW 2009 

 

 

 

RUGBY WORLD CUP NEWS

The draw is out for the 2011 World Cup and the games that have been allocated to Christchurch are: