The recently crowned Super Rugby Pacific champions, the Canterbury Crusaders, have announced their upcoming European tour in an exciting development for rugby enthusiasts.
On February 3, the New Zealand team will kick off their tour by taking on Munster, the reigning champions of the United Rugby Championship, hailing from Ireland. This match promises to be a clash of titans, as both teams showcase their skills and vie for supremacy.
Following this encounter, the Crusaders will make their way to Bristol, where they will lock horns with the formidable Bristol Bears just six days later.
It marks the first time the Crusaders will be playing in Europe since their encounter with the Durban-based Sharks at Twickenham back in 2011, as revealed by the New Zealand franchise.
Scheduled for next February, the Crusaders’ tour games hold significant implications, potentially serving as a testing ground for a prospective global club competition, according to Colin Mansbridge, the CEO of the Crusaders.
Mansbridge also noted the extensive efforts made by New Zealand and Australian clubs in the pursuit of a World Club Competition, making the opportunity to face their Northern Hemisphere counterparts too enticing to pass up.
Rugby enthusiasts can anticipate thrilling displays of talent and fierce competition as these powerhouse teams go head-to-head.
Under the leadership of their new head coach, Rob Penney, who takes the reins from Scott Robertson, set to assume the role of All Blacks coach in 2024, the Crusaders will showcase their prowess and fighting spirit on this European tour.
Having recently secured their seventh consecutive title under Robertson with a hard-fought 25-20 victory against the Waikato Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific final, the Christchurch-based team is poised to bring their winning mentality and formidable skills to the European stage.
As rugby fans eagerly await the clash of these elite teams, the Crusaders’ European tour adds a new layer of excitement and anticipation to the global rugby scene. It is a testament to the ever-growing popularity of the sport and the desire to foster cross-hemispheric competition.
