Tasman Mako scrum-half Noah Hotham signed a 3-year deal with the Crusaders to take him through to 2025. A product of Hamilton Boys High, he was in the same crop as newly signed fly-half Taha Kemara. Hotham was named in the Mako squad in 2021 as a development player and made his NPC debut against Waikato in Hamilton. Crusaders Head Coach Scott Robertson believes “Noah is a big explosive halfback who has an exceptional ability to control the game, and he has shown an outstanding worth ethic and an incredible desire to develop – the great foundations for a successful Crusader”.