After spending seven seasons in Wales Johnny McNicholl returned to the Crusaders in 2024 for injury cover, and now the fullback and winger is locked in to play in the Red and Black jersey for another two seasons.
It was less than a two week turn around between McNicholl receiving a text message from Matt Todd to planting his feet back on home turf. With a fortnight to settle back into Christchurch living, a call from James Marshall two hours before the team boarded to play the Blues in Auckland saw McNicholl up for the bench due to a training injury, in his first Super Rugby appearance since 2016.
“I was definitely nervous because I hadn’t prepared to play, I wasn’t sure what it was going to be like to come back and play in the comp I’d been away from for so long. But I was on the field in ten minutes and once you’re out there it all comes naturally again”.
The following week McNicholl played his first home game dotting down over the white line twice, in a thrilling 37-26 win over the Chiefs, which was his season highlight, “It was pretty special playing out in front of the family again”.
Despite the team not making finals, McNicholl had an excellent season making a real difference to the side “Last year, the results weren’t really going our way, we had a lot of close games. I was happy with the way I was playing, and I guess that’s reflected in being wanted to stay for a couple more years”.
Almost a year back on New Zealand turf, McNicholl with his wife and two young daughters have well and truly settled back home. “This is where all my family is, being away for 7 years was tough, it’s good to be in a place with all the family around”.A much more relaxing Christmas Day is on the cards now McNicholl is back in the Southern hemisphere, “Christmas period was probably the most important period of rugby in the UK, our biggest game of the year was on Boxing Day, so I’ll finally be able to enjoy myself on Christmas Day which will be nice”.
With preseason to be upon us in a matter of weeks, McNicholl is keen to get stuck back in when Crusaders play the Blues at Kirwee Rugby Club on January 31 “That should be good, getting out to the country, playing a game out there will be fun”.
“I’m excited to jump back in with the boys and rip into the season and right a few wrongs from last year”.
