Blues players celebrate Beauden Barrett's successful extra-time penalty which helped them beat the Reds at Te Kaha Stadium.

Analysis: Wildly successful 'super round' gives rugby the boost it needs

Christchurch turned it on this weekend and provided a public relations win for the game at just the right time, writes Patrick McKendry.

3:38pm

Crusaders wing Dallas McLeod breaks away against the Waratahs at Te Kaha Stadium.

Crusaders re-discover mojo at just the right time against Waratahs

Determined to open their reign at their new stadium in the right way, the inconsistent Crusaders found a little magic at Te Kaha.

Fri, Apr 24

The inside of Te Kaha Stadium - perfectly manicured grass and the gaurantee of a good seat.

Christchurch's new stadium - a warm, dry, noisy prize for a resilient city

The Crusaders' new home has the potential to be the noisiest sporting arena in New Zealand, as 1News sports writer Patrick McKendry discovers.

Fri, Apr 24

7:28

One NZ Stadium (Te Kaha) in Christchurch.

Pride, excitement in Christchurch before Te Kaha stadium's first match

The Crusaders will kick off for the first time at their new home tonight when they take on the Waratahs in front of a sold-out crowd.

Fri, Apr 24

7:28

Leicester Fainga'anuku on the charge for the Crusaders.

All Blacks midfielder set for new loose forward role at Crusaders

Leicester Fainga'anuku will make his starting debut in the pack for the Crusaders as they open this weekend's "Super Round" at their new Te Kaha stadium.

Wed, Apr 22

Chiefs wing Leroy Carter looks for space against the Hurricanes at Waikato Stadium.

Analysis: Is 'robotic' Super Rugby entering a mid-life crisis?

The competition is celebrating its 30-year anniversary but the vibe just seems off in 2026, suggest 1News writers Scotty Stevenson and Patrick McKendry.

Wed, Apr 22

The six Crusaders horses have been a part of the club's pre-match tradition for more than 30 years.

Crusaders scrap horses for matches at new Christchurch stadium

Chief executive Colin Mansbridge said the "incredibly difficult" decision to retire the horses after more than 30 years in action was not taken lightly.

Tue, Apr 14

Kalani Thomas of the Reds in action during the Super Rugby Pacific Round 9 match between the Queensland Reds and the Canterbury Crusaders

Reds upset Crusaders to end 15-year losing run in Brisbane

Coach Les Kiss has heralded the Queensland Reds' mental toughness after they upset the Crusaders 31-26 to end a 15-year hoodoo in Brisbane.

Sun, Apr 12

Fans on the field after the last rugby game at Apollo Projrcts Stadium during the Super Rugby Pacific match - Crusaders Vs Fiji Drua at the last game at Apollo Projects Stadium, New Zealand, 3rd April 2026.

Crusaders farewell home ground with 11-try demolition of Drua

The Super Rugby Pacific powerhouses notched a 100th win at the stadium that was hastily erected in 2012 in the wake of the previous year's devastating earthquake.

Sat, Apr 4

March 2026
Crusaders and All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams.

Crusaders and All Blacks prop has 'serious infection' in spine

Tamaiti Williams is in hospital, ruled out for the rest of the Super season and with his Test ambitions in doubt.

Mon, Mar 30

Tupou Vaa'i and the Chiefs react to conceding a try to the Brumbies in Canberra.

All Black's knee injury adds more pain to Chiefs' defeat

Tupou Vaa'i and two of his teammates have left the Chiefs' squad in Australia a week early following a dispiriting loss in Canberra.

Sun, Mar 22

Match officials, from left, Todd Petrie, Ben O' Keeffe and Maggie Cogger-Orr look at the big screen during the Blues v Chiefs match in round one.

'Frustration': Do Super Rugby officials have breakdown blindness?

Analysis: Suspicions remain – despite denials – that the ruck area is being refereed more leniently in Super Rugby, writes Patrick McKendry.

Fri, Mar 20

Beauden Barrett talks to Blues coach Vern Cotter after a pre-season game in January.

'Happy it's over' - Beauden Barrett on All Blacks' coaching drama

Dave Rennie's appointment gets the thumbs up from the Blues and All Blacks playmaker, who says he will soon be in talks with the new boss.

Wed, Mar 11

Crusaders captain David Havili in action against the Blues at Eden Park at the weekend.

Scuffle as tensions boil over at Crusaders training

Observers reported that prop Kershawl Sykes-Martin and lock Will Tucker had a confrontation after the team's latest loss.

Tue, Mar 10

Beauden Barrett makes a break for the Blues against the Crusaders at Eden Park.

Analysis: Barrett pulls strings for Blues as Crusaders self-destruct

Beauden Barrett's quality in his first game back helped expose the Crusaders at Eden Park, writes sports reporter Patrick McKendry.

Mon, Mar 9

Crusaders prop Tamaiti Williams.

Crusaders prop hit with three-week ban for foul play

Crusaders and All Blacks forward Tamaiti Williams will be sidelined for his team's matches against the Blues, Highlanders and Moana Pasifika.

Tue, Mar 3

Crusaders fullback Will Jordan tackles Chiefs wing Leroy Carter in the dying seconds at Waikato Stadium.

Analysis: Crusaders' win over Chiefs a blast from the past

The Crusaders recovered from a poor start to beat their rivals in a game notable for its spite and counter-attacking ambition, writes Patrick McKendry.

Sun, Mar 1

February 2026
Crusaders head coach Rob Penney.

'The worm will turn' - Penney backs Crusaders to break early slump

The Crusaders coach called the final moments of his team's loss to the Brumbies "embarrassing", but was more philosophical a couple of days later.

Tue, Feb 24

Crusaders replacement Leicester Fainga'anuku charges for the line during his team's defeat to the Brumbies.

Brumbies enjoy historic victory over clueless Crusaders

The men from Canberra scored eight tries in thrashing the Crusaders in Christchurch - the first time they have won in the city since 2000.

Sun, Feb 22

The three Barrett brothers, from left, Beauden, Scott and Jordie, pictured after the All Blacks' win over the Wallabies at Eden Park last year.

Analysis: Barrett brothers on the brink of a big year for All Blacks

A year out from the World Cup, Beauden, Scott and Jordie are under pressure to prove themselves all over again, writes Patrick McKendry.

Thu, Feb 19

Cortez Ratima runs in for what turned out to be the winning try for the Chiefs against the Blues at Eden Park.

Analysis: Rare Ratima quality enough for Chiefs to pip Blues

1News writer Patrick McKendry runs the rule over Super Rugby Pacific's opening round which featured a mixture of performances.

Sun, Feb 15

Scott Robertson and Codie Taylor celebrate the Crusaders' Super Rugby grand final victory over the Chiefs at Waikato Stadium in 2023.

'He gave so much to the team' - All Black Codie Taylor on sacked mate Razor

Taylor said he was "gutted" for Scott Robertson but there was now an opportunity for a new head coach to reassert New Zealand's dominance.

Wed, Feb 4

Referee Damon Murphy hands out a yellow card during the Highlanders vs Crusaders Super Rugby Pacific match at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, last season.

Five law variations to speed up Super Rugby – and muzzle TMOs

The Television Match Official will have less influence on the decision-making of the referee this year.

Mon, Feb 2

January 2026
All Black gets the jump on teammates by training with Sydney Swans

All Black gets the jump on teammates by training with Sydney Swans

Wing Caleb Clarke is upskilling himself with the Aussie Rules team; a visit which will almost certainly improve his aerial game.

Wed, Jan 14

December 2025
Sevu Reece scores one of his two tries against Wales in Cardiff last month.

All Blacks wing Reece announces departure for French club

Sevu Reece will head to Perpignan after next year's Super Rugby season with the Crusaders.

December 11, 2025