News

BNZ Crusaders team named to face the Hurricanes in Levin

Details Published: 31 January 2019

The BNZ Crusaders will take the field for the first time in 2019, when they play the Hurricanes this weekend in the first of two pre-season fixtures ahead of this year's Investec Super Rugby campaign.

Photo Credit: Photosport

BNZ Crusaders Head Coach Scott Robertson has named a squad of 30 players to travel north for the match which will be played at Levin Domain.

Loose forwards Whetukamokamo Douglas and Jordan Taufua have been named Captains for the first and second halves respectively. The travelling squad also features a number of new players who are set to wear the Crusaders jersey for the first time.



Robertson said after a long pre-season, the squad is excited to finally be taking the field on Saturday afternoon: "The group has prepared really well over a long period of time leading up to this game, and suddenly a fixture that seemed so far away pre-Christmas, is upon is.



"We've done a lot of work getting our contact right so the boys are fully prepared to climb into their work on Saturday. The Hurricanes are always really physical but this group is ready for the challenge and Levin is a great place to play," Robertson said.



The BNZ Crusaders pre-season match versus the Hurricanes is due to kick off at 3pm, Saturday 2nd February, at Levin Domain.





BNZ Crusaders team to play the Hurricanes:





1. Tim Perry REPLACEMENTS 2. Andrew Makalio Isi Tu'ungafasi 3. Michael Alaalatoa Ben Funnell 4. Mitchell Dunshea George Bower 5. Quinten Strange Luke Romano 6. Tom Sanders John Akau'ola-Laula 7. Billy Harmon Jordan Taufua (C) 8. Whetukamokamo Douglas (C) Tom Christie 9. Bryn Hall (VC) Cullen Grace 10. Mitchell Hunt Mitchell Drummond (VC) 11. Leicester Faingaanuku Brett Cameron 12. Dallas McLeod Ngane Punivai 13. Braydon Ennor Sevu Reece 14. Manasa Mataele Will Jordan 15. David Havili Ereatara Enari Fergus Burke

The BNZ Crusaders final pre-season fixture is the Farmlands Cup match against the Highlanders, which will be played next Friday 8 February, 6pm, at Southbridge Rugby Club. Click here for tickets.





