Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Crusaders sign three-test All Blacks halfback for 2022 Super Rugby

(Photo by Toshifumi KITAMURA / AFP) (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP via Getty Images)

The Crusaders have signed three-test All Blacks halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi on a one-year deal ahead of the 2022 Super Rugby season.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tahuriorangi joins the Crusaders from the Chiefs, where he has spent the past four seasons after moving north from the Hurricanes at the end of 2017.

It was during his debut campaign with the Chiefs when Tahuriorangi earned a surprise call-up to the All Blacks three years ago, named as third-choice halfback behind Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara.

Video Spacer

What sacrifice means to the Black Ferns | Healthspean Elite

Video Spacer

What sacrifice means to the Black Ferns | Healthspean Elite

However, after playing three tests against Argentina in Nelson, Japan in Tokyo and Italy in Rome throughout 2018, Tahuriorangi hasn’t been sighted for the All Blacks since then.

Instead, Chiefs teammate Brad Weber has cemented himself as New Zealand’s third-choice halfback, while Blues starlet Finlay Christie has also moved up the pecking order and is a member of the current All Blacks squad.

In fact, Tahuriorangi struggled for game time in Super Rugby this year as Weber, the franchise’s co-captain who yesterday confirmed he has re-signed with New Zealand Rugby for two further years, dominated the No 9 jersey this season.

The additional rise of rookie prospect Xavier Roe has seemingly forced Tahuriorangi to survey his options as he came off-contract this year, but the Crusaders have come calling as they look to build depth at halfback for next season.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Christchurch-based franchise currently have two halfbacks on their books for 2021, one-test All Black Mitchell Drummond and Maori All Blacks representative Bryn Hall.

Ere Enari, the club’s third-choice halfback, looks to be the casualty of Tahuriorangi’s arrival at Orangetheory Stadium, but the latter’s move south gives the Crusaders three players with international experience at their disposal at No 9.

Few franchises across Super Rugby can boast such depth, which should help the Crusaders in their bid to claim a sixth piece of silverware in as many seasons.

Tahuriorangi has history with Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson, who selected the Maori All Blacks representative in the New Zealand U20 team that went on to win the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy six years ago.

ADVERTISEMENT

Robertson said his time with Tahuriorangi in the national age-grade set-up gave him a good insight into the latter’s abilities.

“I was really impressed by Te Toiroa during our 2015 Junior World Championship campaign, he was a big part of our success that year and we’re looking forward to getting the best out of him next season,” he said via a statement.

“I know he’s prepared to come down here and compete for a spot which is hugely exciting, and we look forward to welcoming him into our whanau.”

Tahuriorangi, meanwhile, said he was “grateful” to be handed another chance in Super Rugby franchise heading into next season.

“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to join a club that has such an awesome track record in Super Rugby, and it’s exciting to have the chance to contribute to a team like the Crusaders,” Tahuriorangi said.

“I worked with Razor a few years back as part of the New Zealand Under 20s programme, so I’m looking forward to reconnecting with him next season and embracing a fresh challenge in my rugby career.”

The acquisition of Tahuiorangi represents the second signing made by the Crusaders for the 2022 campaign, as he joins Los Pumas star Pablo Matera as the two new players set to join the club.

Their presence should help compensate for the confirmed departures of Michael Alaalatoa (Leinster), Tom Sanders (Tokyo Sungoliath), Brett Cameron (Kamiashi Seawaves), Manasa Mataele (Western Force) and Josh McKay (Glasgow Warriors).

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

1 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith' Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'
Search