11 December 2015

Canstaff Crusaders Academy announces 2016 intake

The Crusaders Academy will have a new intake of players and a new name in 2016. International recruitment agency, Canstaff, were announced as the naming rights sponsors of the academy at the recent 2016 launch.

Crusaders CEO Hamish Riach said Canstaff had been loyal supporters of the Crusaders for the last three years but were keen to extend their investment into this area of player development.

“Canstaff is an organisation focussed on developing people, just as the Crusaders Academy is. It is a natural fit that will benefits both parties. We are honoured to have this valued commercial partner’s name to our Crusaders Academy and look forward to working further with them,” Mr Riach said.

Canstaff Managing Director, Matt Jones, attended the 2016 launch and said he was impressed with the obvious young talent in the room and the professionalism and commitment that the Crusaders Academy staff exhibit.

“We are really proud to put our name to the Canstaff Crusaders Academy and to work with people who show as much passion for developing talent as we do. We are big Crusaders fans so it is exciting to be involved in nurturing the next generation of Crusaders,” Mr Jones said.

Canstaff Crusaders Academy Manager, Aaron Webb, said there is a fantastic group of young men joining the academy in 2016 and there is no doubt that some future rugby stars will be among them.

“We are very proud of what the academy has achieved historically - 61% of the 2016 Crusaders Squad and 74% of the 2015 championship Canterbury ITM Cup team were Crusaders Academy graduates. Since 1998 we have produced 37 All Blacks and 90% of our graduates gain professional playing contracts, full Provincial Union Contracts or above. I have no doubt that our latest intake of players will enjoy similar results,” Mr Webb said.

Canstaff Crusaders Academy 2016 Canterbury intake:

Josh Brown / No. 8
St Patricks College - Silverstream
Hurricanes U18 2015
NZ Secondary Schools Barbarians 2015
Brett Cameron / First five-eight
Culanane College First XV 2014
Canterbury U19 2015 Jock Hobbs Memorial Tournament National Champions
Lincoln University Rugby Scholar
New Zealand U20s trialist 2015/16
Braydon Ennor / Centre
St Kentigern’s College first XV 2015
Blues U18 2014 and 2015
Woohoo Rugby Scholarship recipient 2016
Auckland Secondary Schools 100m – 2nd place
Lona Halaholo / No.8
Mt. Albert Grammar School First XV 2015
Blues U18 2015
Auckland U18 2015
Blues Development Camp 2015
Billy Harmon / St Bede’s College first XV 2012
NZ Secondary Schools Barbarians 2012
New Brighton Club Division 1 2015
Canterbury ITM Cup Wider Training Group
Canterbury Maori 2015
Canterbury Colts 2014
Academy Apprentice 2015
Josh McKay / Christchurch Boys’ High School First XV 2015
NZ Secondary Schools 2015
Crusaders U18 2015
Canterbury Mens Sevens – South Island Qualification Tournament
Lincoln University Rugby Scholar 2016
Raymond Nu’u / Midfield Back
St Andrew’s College first XV 2015
Crusaders U18 2015
New Zealand Secondary Schools 2015
New Zealand Secondary School Barbarians 2015
Crusaders Pre-Academy 2014-15
Sean Paranihi / Tighthead Prop
Sumner Division 1 2015
New Zealand Secondary Schools 2014
Canterbury U19 2015 (Jock Hobbs Memorial Tournament winners)
New Zealand U20 Trialist 2015
Rueben Spicer / Halfback
New Brighton Club Division 1 2015
Shirley Boys’ High School First XV 2014
Canterbury U19 2015 (Jock Hobbs Memorial Tournament winners)
Will Tucker / Lock
St Bede’s College First XV 2015
Crusaders U18 2015
New Zealand Secondary Schools 2015
Crusaders Pre-Academy 2014/15
Poasa Waqanibau / Wing
Fiji U20 2014
Fiji Warriors Pacific Nations Cup 2015
Wanganui Heartland team 2015

Canstaff Crusaders Academy 2016 Tasman intake:

Pari Pari Parkinson / Lock
New Zealand Secondary Schools Barbarians team 2014
St Kentigern’s College first XV 2014
New Zealand U20 trialist 2015
Tima Faingaanuku / Wing/Fullback
Nelson College first XV 2015
Tasman Under 18 2015
Crusaders U18 2015
Isaiah Miller / No. 8
Marlborough Boys College first XV 2015
Tasman Under 18 2015
Crusaders U18 2015
Shannon Frizell / Loose forward
Marist Division 1 2015
Tasman Griffins 2015
Tasman Makos Wider Training Group 2015
Isaac Salmon / Tighthead Prop
Nelson Rugby Football Club Division 1 2015
Tasman U19 2015
Nelson College first XV 2014
Amos Pogia / Outside Centre
Mount Roskill Grammar School first XV 2013
Nelson Rugby Football Club Division 1 2015
Tasman U19 2015
Braden Stewart / Loose forward
Central Rugby Club Division 1 2015
Tasman U19 2015
Marlborough Boys College first XV 2014
Inoke Latu / Loosehead Prop
Nelson Rugby Football Club Division 1 2015
Tasman Griffins 2015
Tasman Makos Wider Training Group 2015
James Hawkey / First five-eight
Celtic Rugby Club Division 1 – Timaru 2015
Heartland U19 2015
New Zealand Marist – Seniors and Colts 2015
Timaru Boys High School first XV 2014