Special edition Southern Alps Ultra Lager can celebrates Crusaders new home

09 Jun 2026

A special moment in Crusaders history is being celebrated in a way fans can hold onto, with the release of a limited edition Southern Alps Ultra Lager can to mark the opening of the club’s new home, alongside a signed original artwork set to be auctioned for charity.

The bespoke design brings together Southern Alps Lager, the Crusaders and renowned street artist Guy Ellis, also known as Dcypher, in a collaboration centred around pride and connection.

The can artwork is the result of a shared creative process involving Crusaders Captain David Havili, 150‑game Crusaders halfback Mitchell Drummond, Dcypher and Moa Brewing Managing Director Steve Smith.

Together, they worked to create something that reflects both the significance of the moment and the identity of the region the Crusaders represent, a milestone Smith says deserved to be marked in a genuinely meaningful way.

“This is a once‑in‑a‑generation moment for the Crusaders and for the wider Crusaders community,” Smith says.

“We wanted to create something more than just a can. It’s a keepsake – a small piece of history that captures the pride, passion and identity of the region as the team steps into a new home.”

For Dcypher, the design centres on connection. Connection to the land, to the team and to the people who have stood behind the Crusaders for generations.

“The Southern Alps sit at the heart of this region, so it felt right to place them front and centre,” Ellis says.

“They represent strength, permanence and belonging. From there, the artwork grows outward to reflect players and supporters coming together in a place that’s incredibly special to this part of the world.

“There’s a real synergy with Southern Alps Ultra Lager. It’s local, it’s authentic and it brings everything together visually and culturally.”

Crusaders Captain David Havili says being part of the creative process gave players a unique chance to reflect on what the new home means.

“It was something pretty different for us, but we really enjoyed it,” Havili says.

“Working alongside Guy and seeing how ideas turn into something physical was impressive. We wanted the design to feel like it truly represents our fans and the journey we’re on as a club.”

Mitchell Drummond says the collaborative nature of the project made it especially meaningful.

“Guy made it easy for us to be involved. We talked a lot about what this region means to us as players and how special it is to finally have a place we can call home. Seeing that reflected in the final design is pretty special,” Drummond says.

The limited‑edition Southern Alps Ultra Lager Crusaders can launches in June 2026, giving fans the chance to celebrate a historic new chapter in Crusaders history – and take a piece of it home with them. They can be purchased at all participating supermarkets including Crusaders brand partner FreshChoice.

The original artwork canvas, signed by the 2026 Crusaders team, will be auctioned on Trade Me to raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand, a cause personally selected by Mitchell and David.

The auction can be found here.