Rob Penney's been back at Crusaders HQ for just a few short months, but already is up to his old tricks — continuing his pre-season tradition of taking his players out of their comfort zones and into rowing boats.
"I think it's got great synergies with our game and it's a great way to challenge the boys and get them working together in different units," he said.
Rowing in eights, a chance for the props to mix with the outside backs — as the Crusaders head of physical performance picked squads based on the average body weight.
"We had to measure out everyone's body weights and basically get the boats under 105 kilograms.
"So, what you'll see [in the boats behind us] is props right through to halfbacks and wingers," said Gareth Duder.
Penney knows the benefits, particularly when it comes to team bonding at this point in the season — he did it with Canterbury in the early 2000s.
Prop Ryan Crotty remembered those days fondly.
"Good old Pens.. it was tied in with our theme that year.
"It's just as nerve-wracking as I remember but good fun out there," he said.
Some rugby players were better than others in the boat. Lock Zach Gallagher, a former Christ's College rower, led from the front.
"Couple of the boys picked it up pretty well to be fair.. We got all eight feather blades today which was cool," he said.
The Crusaders will have a total of four sessions, thanks to the coaching and equipment from Avon Rowing Club, ending in an inter-club race at the end.
"To be fair they're having a real crash course, they're essentially doing in three sessions what we'd do in a season," said Logan Keys, the director of Club and Community Rowing at Avon.
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