Crusaders captain Sam Whitelock hoists the Super Rugby trophy after his side beat the Lions in the final in Christchurch last year. GETTY IMAGES Crusaders captain Sam Whitelock celebrates the win over the Lions in last year's Super Rugby final by plunging a sword into the Christchurch Stadium turf. Tew, now the boss of NZ Rugby, was already entrenched as the Canterbury Rugby Football Union's CEO and it made sense to include the Crusaders job in his portfolio. The board settled on the Crusaders, a reference to the "crusading spirit of Canterbury rugby". No longer are the Crusaders viewed as a rugby factory that pumps out quality All Blacks and Super Rugby representatives.

Source: Stuff March 18, 2019 06:00 UTC