Luring loose forward Tom Sanders home and away from the Chiefs hardly required Crusaders coach Scott Robertson to conjure up much of a sales pitch.

While signing Sanders and retaining loose forward Pete Samu for a third season wasn't confirmed by the champion Crusaders until Wednesday, it was a mid-season phone call from Robertson which sparked Sanders' move.

"He rang me halfway through the Super Rugby season and there was a few phone calls back and forth and he touted the idea to me," Sanders said after training with Canterbury in Christchurch on Wednesday.

JOSEPH JOHNSON/FAIRFAX NZ Canterbury coach Glenn Delaney and Canterbury loose forward Tom Sanders talk tactics at training on Wednesday.

"All the pros and cons and that sort of thing went over in my head, it was a pretty easy decision in the end."

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Sanders grew up in Little River, about 50km southeast from Christchurch, played for Lincoln University and has been a member of Canterbury's NPC team since 2014.

SCOTT BARBOUR/GETTY IMAGES Tom Sanders, in action for the Chiefs earlier this year, will play for the Crusaders next season.

He was a member of the Crusaders' wide training group in 2015, before then Chiefs coach Dave Rennie snapped him up for the past two Super Rugby campaigns.

However, getting the chance to return home was too much to resist for Sanders, who has signed a two-year contract with the Christchurch-based franchise.

"It's a pretty humbling experience getting offered a contract, coming back home where I started playing my rugby," Sanders said.

MUZI NTOMBELA Pete Samu, right, and Seta Tamanivalu with the Super Rugby trophy in Johannesburg earlier this month.

"I guess growing up I always dreamed of playing for the Crusaders, to get that opportunity for the next couple of years is pretty special.

"I've got a good relationship with Razor [Robertson]. He gave me my shot in under-20s, I've played a lot of rugby underneath him."

In addition to having Sanders and Samu on the books, the Crusaders have three other loose forwards - Kieran Read, Matt Todd, and Jordan Taufua - signed up.

DIANNE MANSOn/GETTY IMAGES Crusaders loose forward Pete Samu in action against the Highlanders in the quarterfinal in Christchurch last month.

Heiden Bedwell-Curtis and Jed Brown were in this year's squad, but it's unlikely the Crusaders will retain both and contract more than six loose forwards, particularly when Scott Barrett can also play in the back-row.

Having debuted against the Blues in 2016, Samu is coming off a break-out season with the Crusaders.

Despite missing a string of games with what was initially feared a season-ending leg injury, the Melbourne-born player bounced back and helped the Crusaders beat the Lions in the Super Rugby final in Johannesburg earlier this month.

"I am loving playing in this team and there is no way I could turn down an offer to play here again next year after the season we've just had," Samu said.

"We have some awesome loose forward talent here . . . and that keeps pushing me to be my best, so I know that this is the best place for me to keep learning and growing my game."



Samu had a stint in the Waratahs' wider training group before moving to New Zealand in 2014.

He started by playing club rugby in Nelson, before earning a call-up to the Tasman Makos later the same year.

Samu was named Crusaders Knights player of the year in 2015 and promptly earned a call up to the Crusaders as injury cover.

Robertson said Sanders and Samu would bring their own unique style to the squad, but they shared an "awesome" work ethic.



"Pete Samu has an explosiveness and a flair factor that creates opportunities. He has been huge for us this year and we look forward to seeing him continue to make his mark in 2018," Robertson said.

"Tom Sanders was a midfield back until he converted to loose forward in his teens, and he still shows the speed of a back but also has a massive motor and a really gritty, tough element to him, which we love."

Signed-up Crusaders: Codie Taylor (until 2021), Sam Whitelock, Oli Jager, Mitchell Drummond (2020); Kieran Read, Owen Franks, Israel Dagg, Joe Moody, Ben Funnell, Tim Perry, Mitchell Hunt, George Bridge, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Richie Mo'unga, Tom Sanders (2019); Matt Todd, Ryan Crotty, Seta Tamanivalu, Wyatt Crockett, Jordan Taufua, Scott Barrett, Luke Romano, Mike Alaalatoa, Jone Macilai, Leon Fukofuka, Pete Samu (2018).