“Surreal” is how Macca Springer described being asked to sign on with the Crusaders for a three-year deal.
The Tasman Mako outside back will kick off his first ever Super Rugby season when the team assembles in December.
“I’ve been watching this team for ages obviously, definitely one of my favourites, so yeah I’m pretty stoked to get a three year deal with the boys,” Springer said.
The 19 year old spent some of 2022 as a development player with the Crusaders and is part of our Crusaders Academy. He repesented New Zealand at the Oceania Rugby U20 Championship in July 2022, part of the side that took down Australia 69-12 to snare the title for the fifth time since 2015.
His speed annd agility on the wing for the Mako through the 2022 NPC season had selectors and fans paying attention. He scored eight tries from nine appearances.
Springer said it was a regular training day with the team when Crusaders Head Coach Scott Robertson pulled him aside.
“I thought I was getting told off or something, but yeah, he asked me if I was interested in staying here for the next three years and playing for the Crusaders. Pretty surreal really,” he said.
“My nana was probably most excited, she started crying and so did my mum. Dad was pretty proud as well.”
Slotting in alongside veterans like Sevu Reece, Will Jordan, and Leicester Fainga’anuku, Springer expects to learn plenty in his first season.
“I’ll be trying to get as much information out of them as I can, you know the guys in this team are a pretty high class of player, so the goal is to learn whatever I can from them – on and off the field,” he said.
