Ethan Blackadder scribbled down his goal of becoming a Crusader on a piece of paper at the start of the season.

At 10.30am on Tuesday, he received a phone call confirming he was one of seven new players in the reigning champions' 38-strong squad for the 2018 Super Rugby season.

Of course, one of the first things he did was fire off a text message to his old man, Todd Blackadder, a former Crusaders captain and coach.

JOHN SIBLEY/ REUTERS Former Crusaders coach and captain Todd Blackadder's son, Ethan, will play for the Crusaders next season.

"I just sent a text, nothing too serious," the Tasman Makos' 22-year-old blindside flanker said.

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But for many Crusaders fans Blackadder's inclusion in the squad is serious, given his pedigree and the big wraps the Christchurch-based franchise have on him.

JOHN DAVIDSON/PHOTOSPORT New Crusaders, from left, Billy Harmon, Jack Stratton, Braydon Ennor, Will Jordan, Ethan Blackadder and Tom Sanders and Crusaders HQ in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Head coach Scott Robertson, who named his squad via a video-conference call from London on Wednesday morning (NZT), called him raw and rugged, while assistant Jason Ryan raved about his work-rate.

"I'm a really big fan, to be fair. First of all, he's got great character," Ryan said. "What we really like about him is he's got unbelievable work ethic. He empties his tank every game, he's a great team man, really well liked in Tasman."

Blackadder's rise into the squad, which also includes new names in Tom Sanders, Billy Harmon, Jack Stratton, Mike Delany, Braydon Ennor and Will Jordan, was quick.

GETTY IMAGES Ethan Blackadder has earned a Crusaders contract on the back of a standout season with Tasman.

Shortly after trudging off AMI Stadium in the wake of Tasman's 35-13 loss to Canterbury in the Mitre 10 Cup final on Saturday night, he caught wind of some interest.

He didn't get his hopes up, and instead played it cool until the words he jotted down earlier in the year became a reality.

"At the start of the season, that's what I wrote down . . . that was my goal," Blackadder said.

"It's what I was after. I knew it was going to be hard to get - they don't just hand them out. I was quite surprised, I was blown away when I got the phone call."

Like the McCaw, Carter and Thorne surnames, the Blackadder name is one of the most revered names at the franchise.

Former All Black captain Todd Blackadder's eight-year coaching tenure ended without a title, but the former lock played 71 matches for the franchise and captained them to three of their eight titles.

Ethan said he and his father, who left the Crusaders at the end of last season, speak on the phone at least once a week.

The newly minted Crusader effectively replaces Manawatu's Heiden Bedwell-Curtis in the squad, and joins Matt Todd, Kieran Read, Pete Samu, Tom Sanders, Jordan Taufua and Billy Harmon in the loose forwards mix. All Blacks lock Scott Barrett can also play No 6.

Canterbury open-side flanker Harmon, 22, and Sanders, who returns home after two years with the Chiefs, are also also uncapped Crusaders. Harmon is effectively a swap for the injured Jed Brown (Achilles).

"Billy has taken his chances, he's been on the radar for a while," Ryan said of the Crusaders Knights and New Brighton flanker.

Blackadder, who first played for the Makos last year and was a member of the Crusaders academy, plans to be a "sponge" when pre-season training starts on November 29.

"I'm going to take in every bit of knowledge I can. Train hard and enjoy it."

CRUSADERS 2018 SQUAD

Forwards: Michael Alaalatoa, Scott Barrett, Ethan Blackadder, Wyatt Crockett, MItchell Dunshea, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Billy Harmon, Oliver Jager, Andrew Makalio, Joe Moody, Tim Perry, Kieran Read, Luke Romano, Peter Samu, Tom Sanders, Quinten Strange, Jordan Taufua, Codie Taylor, Matt Todd, Sam Whitelock.

Backs: Tim Bateman, George Bridge, Ryan Crotty, Israel Dagg, Mike Delany, Mitchell Drummond, Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, Bryn Hall, David Havili, Mitchell Hunt, Will Jordan, Jone Macilai, Manasa, Mataele, Richie Mo'unga, Jack Stratton, Seta Tamanivalu.



Arrivals: Ethan Blackadder, Billy Harmon, Tom Sanders, Mike Delany, Braydon Ennor, Will Jordan, Jack Stratton

Departures: Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Jed Brown, Leon Fukofuka, Sean Wainui, Sione Fifita, Digby Ioane, Marty McKenzie

