It’s not just broncos and drills in the Crusaders preseason schedule. Pool sessions, breathing techniques and wrestling have all been part of the brickwork to build the squad’s strength and connection in their preparation for 2025.
Three weeks jam packed with physical work, community connections and many laps run around Malvern Park, the men have been enjoying getting back into some hard training, “It’s been so good,” said Assistant Coach James Marshall, “we have a very enthusiastic group, they’re keen to learn and work hard. It’s been awesome so far”.
Taha Kemara, first five-eighth, said there’s been a shift in what this preseason looks like, “It has been a bit different; the concept has been harder and a lot more physical”.
After an intense preseason block, the Crusaders will be taking a break from Rugby Park over the Christmas period. Marshall will be hosting his family from Nelson for Christmas Day, with three nephews and his own four sons there’s bound to be a future Crusader or two there (potentially enjoying a Christmas tradition of rugby training in the back yard?).
After hanging around Christchurch for Christmas, Dallas Mcleod has tickets booked for Sydney to visit his girlfriend’s dad for New Year’s, “he’s 150m walk from Bondi, so I’ll be able to get my tan on at the beach, hopefully”.
While the squad is ready for the holiday break, they already have their sights set on getting stuck back in come the new year, “Right now I’m probably excited for the break to refresh, but then I’m keen to rip on” said Kemara, “our first preseason game in Kirwee will show the fruits of our labour, and we’ll get to have some fun with what we’ve been doing”.
“I’m excited to get back and rip into it” said McLeod, “All the hard work is going to pay off, it’s exciting to get back in and get the jersey back on”.
And our coaching staff are just as eager, “I’ve been counting down the days since last season!” said Marshall.
You can still grab tickets for our first preseason hit out against the Blues, played at Kirwee Rugby Club on January 24th – the perfect stocking filler!
From all of us here at the Crusaders, we would like to wish our entire community a safe and happy Christmas and New Year!
