Crusaders Confirm 38-Man List

Scott Hansen has finalized a 38-player squad for the Crusaders' upcoming Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

The list, released on Tuesday, includes six new signings and four players earning their first full club contracts. The roster spans the entire backline and forward pack, with specific designations for replacement players and contract renewals.

The forward pack includes props Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, George Bower, Finlay Brewis, and Seb Calder. New signing Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou joins them, while Frenchman Clément Castets serves as a replacement player for Williams until the latter becomes selectable. At hooker, Codie Taylor is joined by George Bell and Manumaua Letiu. The locking group features Scott Barrett, Jamie Hannah, Tahlor Cahill, and Liam Jack.

Depth is present in the loose forward position, where Ethan Blackadder, Dominic Gardiner, Christian Lio-Willie, and Xavier Saifoloi are joined by new signing Finn McLeod. Three other players, Xavier Treacy, Oli Mathis, and Johnny Lee, are listed as earning their first full contracts in 2027. The halfback group consists of Noah Hotham and Kyle Preston, with Mitchell Drummond returning to the main squad after spending the 2026 season in the Wider Training Group.

Richie Mo'unga returns to the number 10 position, joining Rivez Reihana and James White. The midfield includes new signings Jake Te Hiwi and Corey Evans alongside Leicester Fainga'anuku and Toby Bell. Cooper Roberts has also been called up from the Wider Training Group to join this group.

The backline features All Blacks Will Jordan and Chay Fihaki. They are joined by Johnny McNicholl, Macca Springer, Maloni Kunawave, and Kurtis MacDonald. Hansen described the backline as possessing plenty of attacking talent.

Hansen, who played as Crusader number 25, returns to Christchurch as head coach after serving as an assistant coach from 2020 to 2023. His connection to the club dates back to the inaugural Super 12 season in 1996. He noted that the squad combines experienced players who have previously succeeded with younger athletes hungry for opportunities.

"We are all really excited about our squad and what we can all achieve together. There's a lot of talent throughout the group, but just as importantly there are good people who care deeply about this club and what it represents," Hansen said. He added that the challenge now is to bring the mix of experience and youth together.

The club has not yet named a new captain. Hansen said he is looking forward to bringing the group together and seeing what they can build during the 2027 season.

The full 38-man list includes 37 players with standard contracts and one replacement player. The new signings are marked with an asterisk in the official release, identifying Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, McLeod, Te Hiwi, Evans, Treacy, Mathis, Lee, and MacDonald as those earning their first full Crusaders contract.