Defending Champions Crusaders name 2018 Super Rugby squad

The Crusaders squad will feature seven new players for the 2018 Super Rugby season.

Head Coach Scott Robertson announced his 38-man squad this morning and said there was plenty for Crusaders fans to look forward to with a mixture of experience and emerging talent among the ranks for the upcoming season: “We are fortunate to name a vastly experienced squad for 2018, including 12 All Blacks currently away on the end of year tour, along with Maori All Blacks (Tim Bateman) and Barbarians representatives (George Bridge, Mitchell Drummond, Richie Mo’unga).
 

Of the 21 forwards named in the side, two are new to Super Rugby and one player, Tom Sanders, returns to Christchurch to join the squad. Sanders was a member of the Crusaders Wider Training Group in 2015 before moving to the Chiefs for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. 
 
The two new loose forwards joining the squad are Canterbury’s Billy Harmon and Tasman’s Ethan Blackadder.
 

In the backs, Canterbury halfback Jack Stratton joins the squad in 2018, after Ere Enari was ruled out for the season when he broke his leg in the last round-robin match of the Mitre 10 Cup.

Braydon Ennor and Will Jordan both debuted in the Mitre 10 Cup this season, for Canterbury and Tasman respectively, and have been named as two new outside backs in the squad.

Mike Delany, who played for the Highlanders and Chiefs between the 2007 and 2012 seasons and earned one test cap for the All Blacks in 2009, also joins the squad - as an option at either first five-eighth or fullback.

2018 Crusaders squad:

FORWARDS                                                              BACKS
 
Michael Alaalatoa                                                     Tim Bateman
Scott Barrett                                                             George Bridge
Ethan Blackadder                                                     Ryan Crotty
Wyatt Crockett                                                          Israel Dagg
Mitchell Dunshea                                                      Mike Delany
Owen Franks                                                             Mitchell Drummond
Ben Funnell                                                               Braydon Ennor
Billy Harmon                                                             Jack Goodhue
Oliver Jager                                                               Bryn Hall
Andrew Makalio                                                        David Havili
Joe Moody                                                                 Mitchell Hunt
Tim Perry                                                                   Will Jordan
Kieran Read                                                              Jone Macilai
Luke Romano                                                           Manasa Mataele
Pete Samu                                                                Richie Mo’unga  
Tom Sanders                                                            Jack Stratton
Quinten Strange                                                       Seta Tamanivalu
Jordan Taufua
Codie Taylor
Matt Todd
Sam Whitelock