Christian
Lio-Willie
- Crusader Number
- #268
- Position
- Loose Forward
- Date of Birth
- 26/8/1998
- Height
- 189 cm
- Weight
- 111 kg
About
After leaving Massey High School and moving to Otago University to study dentistry, Christian Lio Willie debuted for the Otago provincial side in 2021 and has since been named the clubs MVP for both 2023 and 2024. After playing two games for the Highlanders in 2022, Christian made the move to Christchurch to debut for the Crusaders in 2023 where he played in all 17 games that year.
He was selected for the All Blacks XV in both 2022 and 2023, playing all four games during their Northern Hemisphere and Japan tours.
“It’s a privilege to carry on a legacy that was left behind by so many greats,” said Christian, “being able to make it my own with the people around me is what makes it special to me. Just getting to go out there and play for the boys beside me, and the great community around us”.
Christian is now a practicing dentist as well as a vital member of the Crusader squad. He spends his down time catching kahawai and is a keen musician with a love of guitar, piano and singing.