Scott Barrett will relinquish the Crusaders captaincy next season because of his responsibilities as All Blacks captain, Crusaders coach Rob Penney has confirmed.
Barrett — in his first year as All Blacks skipper — has enough on his plate, said Penney, who was speaking ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific squad announcements today.
"History would suggest it’s too challenging to do both jobs. It's a big ask doing the ABs job so it’s highly likely we’ll move to someone else," he said.
Veteran hooker Codie Taylor is a possibility, as is versatile back David Havili, who is Tasman’s skipper.
Penney is also searching for a new assistant coach following Tamati Ellison’s move to a fulltime role with the All Blacks after Leon MacDonald’s sudden exit from Scott Robertson's group in the middle of the Rugby Championship.
"His influence on the ABs can be seen already," Penney said of Ellison. "It’s been challenging due to the late nature of his confirmation of role with the All Blacks but we’ve got great people we’re in discussion with and hopefully that comes to light in the next week to 10 days."
Ellison had previously been seen as the next likely head coach of the Crusaders and his departure will complicate rebuilding phase at the franchise. Penney had a horror first season after previous coach Robertson’s departure, the Crusaders winning only four of 14 matches and finishing ninth of 12 teams.
Penney, who survived a review into the season, said having the team’s All Blacks fit and available will make a big difference. They will also have a new and experienced first-five in former Wallaby James O’Connor.
The Crusaders have also lost hooker Brodie McAlister, who is behind All Blacks Taylor and George Bell in the pecking order and who has gone to the Chiefs for more game time.
"It’s a sad loss," Penney said. "Brodie approached us, he’s got a family now and other commitments out of footy. The Chiefs could offer longevity. It was the right thing to do for a man with a young family and wanting to prove himself on the footy front with a couple of road blocks here."
Super Rugby Pacific squads for 2025
Crusaders
Props: Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Finlay Brewis, George Bower, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Seb Calder. Hookers: Codie Taylor, Ioane Moananu, George Bell. Locks: Scott Barrett, Quinten Strange, Tahlor Cahill, Jamie Hannah, Antonio Shalfoon. Loose forwards: Ethan Blackadder, Christian Lio-Willie, Tom Christie, Cullen Grace, Corey Kellow, Dominic Gardiner, Flectcher Anderson, Xavier Saifoloi. Halfbacks: Mitchell Drummond, Kyle Preston, Noah Hotham. First five-eighths: Rivez Riehana, James O'Connor, Taha Kemara. Midfielders: Dallas McLeod, David Havili, Levui Aumua, Brayden Ennor. Outside backs: Aki Tuivailala, Johnny McNicholl, Macca Springer, Sevu Reece, Chay Fihaki, Will Jordan.
In: Sykes-Martin, Calder, Shalfoon, Anderson, Saifoloi, Preston, O'Connor, Ennor, McNicholl, Tuivailala. Out: Moody, Franks, McAlister, Gallagher, Heinz, Burke, Crotty, Rova, Murray, Mataele and Halfpenny.
Chiefs
Props: Sione Ahio, George Dyer, Ollie Norris, Reuben O'Neill, Jared Proffit, Aidan Ross. Hookers: Brodie McAlister, Bradley Slater, Samisoni Taukei'aho. Locks: Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Josh Lord, Fiti Sa, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Jimmy Tupou, Tupou Vaa'i. Loose forwards: Kaylum Boshier, Jahrome Brown, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson (captain), Simon Parker, Wallace Sititi, Malachi Wrampling. Halfbacks: Cortez Ratima, Xavier Roe, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi. First five-eighths: Josh Jacomb, Damian McKenzie, Kaleb Trask. Midfielders: Anton Lienert-Brown, Rameka Poihipi, Daniel Rona, Quinn Tupaea, Gideon Wrampling. Outside backs: Leroy Carter, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson
In: McAlister, Sa, Brown, Carter, Jacomb. Out: Kauvaka Kaivelata, Tyrone Thompson, Tom Florence, Josh Ioane, Peniasi Malimali.
Hurricanes
Props: Siale Lauaki, Tyrel Lomax, Tevita Mafileo, Xavier Numia, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Pasilio Tosi. Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Jacob Devery, Raymond Tuputupu. Locks: Tom Allen, Caleb Delany, Zach Gallagher, Josh Taula, Will Tucker, Isaia Walker-Leawere. Loose forwards: Devon Flanders, Brayden Iose, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Peter Lakai, Arese Poliko, Brad Shields. Halfbacks: Cam Roigard, Ereatara Enari, Jordi Viljoen. First five-eighths: Brett Cameron, Lucas Cashmore, Riley Hohepa. Midfielders: Billy Proctor, Riley Higgins, Ngane Punivae, Bailyn Sullivan, Peter Umaga-Jensen. Outside backs: Kade Banks, Tjay Clarke, Fehi Fineanganofo, Harry Godfrey, Ruben Love, Kini Naholo, Daniel Sinkinson
In: Tom Allen, Kade Banks, Lucas Cashmore, Tjay Clarke, Ereatara Enari, Fehi Fineanganofo, Zach Gallagher, Riley Hohepa, Arese Poliko, Will Tucker. Out: Jordie Barrett, Ben Grant, TK Howden, Richard Judd, Josh Moorby, Aidan Morgan, James O’Reilly, TJ Perenara, Salesi Rayasi, Justin Sangster, Ardie Savea, James Tucker.
Moana Pasifika
Props: Chris Apoua, Pone Fa'amausili, James Lay, Sione Mafileo, Abraham Pole, Tito Tuipulotu. Hookers: Tomasi Maka, Sama Malolo, Samiuela Moli. Locks: Allan Craig, Michael Curry, Samuel Slade, Tom Savage, Ofa Tauatevalu, Ola Tauelangi. Loose forwards: Miracle Faiilagi, Sione Havili Talitui, Lotu Inisi, Alamanda Motuga, Semisi Paea, Irie Papuni, Ardie Savea. Halfbacks: Aisea Halo, Melani Matavao, Jonathan Taumateine. First five-eighths: Jackson Garden-Bachop, William Havili, Patrick Pellegrini. Midfielders: Solomon Alaimalo, Fine Inisi, Laomilo Laomilo, Julian Savea. Outside backs: Losi Filipo, Neria Fomai, Pepesana Patafilo, Kyren Taumoefolau, Danny Toala, Tuna Tuitama.
Ins: Alaimalo, Apoua, Filipo, Garden-Bachop, Pellegrini, Fa'amausili, Savea, Tuipulotu, Tuitama. Outs: Donald Brighthouse, Suetena Asomua, Ereatara Enari, Viliami Fine, Solomone Funaki, Sekope Kepu, Sateki Latu, D’Angelo Leuila, Christian Lealiifano, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Nigel Ah Wong, Otumaka Mausia, Henry Taefu, Viliami Napa’a, Anzelo Tuitavuki.
Blues
Props: Angus Ta’avao, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Marcel Renata, Jordan Lay, Joshua Fusitu’a, PJ Sheck, Ben Ake. Hookers: Kurt Eklund, Ricky Riccitelli, James Mullan. Locks: Laghlan McWhannell, Cameron Christie, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Josh Beehre. Loose forwards: Cameron Suafoa, Adrian Choat, Dalton Papali’i, Anton Segner, Hoskins Sotutu, Che Clark. Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Sam Nock, Taufa Funaki. First five-eighths: Stephen Perofeta, Harry Plummer, Beauden Barrett. Midfielders: Xavi Taele, Corey Evans, Meihana Grindlay, Rieko Ioane. Outside backs: Zarn Sullivan, Mark Tele’a, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Payton Spencer, Reon Paul, Cole Forbes.
In: Ake, Christie, Clark, Barrett, Taele, Spencer, Paul. Out: Soane Vikena, James Thompson, Akira Ioane, Rob Rush, Lucas Cashmore, Bryce Heem, Kade Banks, Caleb Tangitau
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