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World Cup winner Aaron Cruden reveals he almost joined Crusaders

23 Apr 2024

(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Rugby World Cup-winning All Black Aaron Cruden has revealed he was “pretty close” to joining the Crusaders this season after fielding a call from assistant coach James Marshall.

Cruden, 35, is one of the more prolific New Zealand first-fives in Super Rugby history. After debuting for the Hurricanes, the playmaker went on to help the Chiefs win back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.

But after leaving New Zealand’s shores for a second to pursue an opportunity with Japanese club Kobelco Steelers three years ago, it seemed that the former All Blacks No. 10’s career in the prestigious rugby competition was over.

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The Chiefs centurion has done a fair bit of pre-game analysis on Sky Sport NZ this season, but in an incredible twist, Cruden could’ve laced up the boots and taken to the field himself after receiving a career lifeline from a struggling Kiwi franchise.

“I was pretty tempted and pretty close,” Cruden said on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.

“But a lot of the decision I’ve probably made, especially this year around rugby… it’s been more based around the family and just making sure that that really fit for everyone.

“It was tough from a personal point of view, as a competitor I’m pretty keen to still play.

“But I think prioritising my family right now was certainly the way.”

Cruden, who was injured during the Rugby World Cup final in 2011, is currently a free agent after a few years in Japan with Kobe and Tokyo Sungoliath. The former All Black did return home last season though to play for Waikato.

The first-five played four matches in the National Provincial Championship, including two starts, which also included a two-try display in the win over Otago at home in round eight. But the step back up to Super Rugby level, by all accounts, is a tough one.

Richie Mo’unga is no longer there at the Crusaders, and the likes of Leigh Halfpenny and Fergus Burke are unavailable at the moment, which is what opened the door for Cruden to potentially run out in the Crusaders’ famed No. 10 jumper.

But it wasn’t to be.

“I’m not sure if I could have helped down there right now anyway,” Cruden continued.

“Maybe a little bit of experience, but those young guys getting that exposure, I think they’ll certainly be better for it in that Crusaders 10 jersey.

“It just doesn’t quite fit timing wise,” he mentioned. “But I did obviously say to them I really appreciated the offer and the interest in a 35-year-old veteran that’s still got a bit of game.”

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GS 22 minutes ago

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Sadly for you, Market forces will always win out, and the reality is that both NZ and Oz are small economies in a much larger Rugby ecosystem. I don’t like it, would love it to be changed. However, NZ and Oz can only generate a certain amount of $$$ to sustain our comps.

So unless you can somehow transform NZ and Oz’s ability to generate enough money to retain our players - well we come to where we are now at, where the Highlanders Squad has an average age of 22 and unless the likes of Timoci Tavatavanawai, Umaga-Jensen and Fokatava get picked in the ABs squad, they will head off-shore in the next year or two, to max out their remaining rugby playing years.

Then, as far as the French clubs go, yip, not exactly healthy stuff - but do you think it’s fair to stop a kid from heading offshore at 16 to generate an income for him and his family? Again if Oz thinks that highly of their potential, it’s up to them to put the $$ in front of the kid to ensure he sticks around.

What’s the alternative? Take away his passport and right to earn a living?

Then, as far as opening the gate—well, it’s already happened—look at the Irish, Scottish, and French rugby teams in the WC. All had imports via residency or the grandparent rule in key positions—I mean, Ireland had more South Hemisphere players in the backline than Irish-born players.

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Ardy 1 hour ago

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History is littered with instances where the money has been used and abused to get advantage, and your silly statement of ‘just pay them more’ when Aus/NZ do not have access to a wide viewer market defies reason.

If it is only a reprieve in the current French club system, which has been going on since the 70’’s, then it is worth it. To open the gates to all countries to get whatever they can afford could be disastrous for the RWC in 20 years.

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I was actually muling over the idea that if Big Jim isn’t selected for the All Blacks this year I’d love for him to become a cornerstone of the Fijian midfield and get a big contract over in Japan.

Fiji don’t necessarily need another midfielder but I reckon he could be their best anyway.

The problem is CR New Zealand has been a destination for Islanders going back centuries, and it’s teams have built great rapport with them. So it’s automatically like a second home, and a lot of them simply don’t want to leave, and attaining All Black status is the only way you can achieve a reasonable income here.

If WR was able to help in some way, and in helping the Drua and Moana it will help no end with those players, simply being able to receive a good wage for their first home team, or their Kiwi SR team, is what’s going to make the biggest difference to this problem/situation.

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JW 2 hours ago

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Or Promoting Fihaki!

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JW 2 hours ago

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Did Reece used to have this power? I know I enjoyed his DMac like runs when he first came about, but the guys character, and now I also don’t seem to enjoy his runs for some reason anymore. Has he even got bigger legs and less agility now? Clarke had an amazing season all considered last year, after he decided to work on speed by dropping a few kg’s.

Kini still seems to have the raw explosive power, which generates as quick feet and acceleration, but I’m not like his long term prospects with aging.

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JW 2 hours ago

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I was a bit disappointed reading the article and what they’re actually doing. I thought this was going to involve some advanced bloody analysis with DNA ancestry or something lol.

I’m not sure you’ve understood the change though (or the article has correctly educated me), as there is no change to the Japan team, this is really about participation (incentivizing growth through to the JRLO, and the rest will take care of itself ala SA’s reformation). I think they’re really happy with the fan base as Japan also has a big culture for overseas stars.

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JW 2 hours ago

Japan's proposed anti-diverse 'blood' eligibility law after foreign player influx

That’s natural though no? Was the same with Lydia Ko.

Sure you’re not just misjudge the effects of a large population?

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JW 2 hours ago

Japan's proposed anti-diverse 'blood' eligibility law after foreign player influx

Only if you’re a racist!

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JW 2 hours ago

Japan's proposed anti-diverse 'blood' eligibility law after foreign player influx

There is no confusion Fin, only a lack of understanding.

it isn’t like that at all. Japan aren’t saying you become japanese after 5 years of living there, they are saying that you only became japanese by having japanese “blood”.

Wrong on both counts. Read my post again. WR are saying you’re not Japanese until you’ve had 5 years there and JRFU are saying you can be after 30 tests. Don’t get too confused here, you raised two topics that I’m having to reply to, but theres absolutely no difference in either.

Not sure why you’re bringing up Fiji, a team no one has mentioned because they clearly bear no relation to the topic at hand.

The Drua are identical to Moana.

no it isn’t. A person can call themselves white, but you can’t have a whites only team.

Of course you can. You just can’t make it represent a whole country ala South Africa. I’m sure theres hundres of Scottish or Irish rep teams all over.

At least you got one thing right, a person can call themselves white if they want, or Maori, and be involved in any such like minded group. Just don’t be like the KKK and make it a racial group 😋

While I’m sure you realise you’re wrong about about the picture you tried to paint (and probably new before posting) in your OP, I don’t have faith that you were able to corelate the two examples. Happy to keep replying until you do, again.

29 Go to comments

JW 2 hours ago

Japan's proposed anti-diverse 'blood' eligibility law after foreign player influx

They always would have, just not over a team that’s able to give the sport a spotlight in their country.

They think they’re in a position to do both now?

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JW 2 hours ago

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If you’re on the loosing side, he’d be great. If you’re on the winning side though I’d prefer not to risk my head!

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