Former Crusaders and Blues first five joins MLR side Glendale Raptors

Stephen Brett, a man once touted as Dan Carter’s replacement for both the Crusaders and the All Blacks, has relocated to America ahead of next year’s third season of Major League Rugby.

Brett, who has represented the Crusaders and Blues in New Zealand, Toyota Verblitz in Japan and Bayonne, Lyon, Clermont and Narbonne in France, will join the Glendale Raptors as their attack coach.

The Raptors finished sixth in this year’s MLR competition and have completely revitalised their coaching team ahead of next year. Brett’s former Crusaders teammate, Peter Borlase, will take over as head coach after working with the forwards in 2019. Borlase’s predecessor, Dave Williams, has been released from his contract.

Brett, who finished his professional playing career barely a year ago, has talked up the need for Glendale to play fast, explosive rugby.

“I have a plan that will hopefully suit the coaches and the team’s needs and help the areas that they want to improve, but it will definitely be a fast playing attack with, of course, lots and lots of tries,” Brett said.

The 2020 season is unlikely to kick off until the end of January, giving Brett plenty of time to help shape the team. The current home-and-away round-robin set-up will be replaced next year with a conference system, due to the addition of three new teams: New England Free Jacks, Old Glory DC and Rugby ATL.