Crusaders Knights Head Coach Mark Brown has selected 12 Tasman players for the 2018 season, which will include games against the Hurricanes and Highlanders development teams in February and March.
The 30-man squad features Canterbury Mitre 10 Cup representatives Nathan Vella, Hamish Dalzell,
Tom Christie and Brett Cameron, as well as Tasman players Ryan Coxon, Blair Prinsep, James Hawkey, Tomas Aoake and Tima Faingaanuku. Christie, Coxon, Faingaanuku and Harrison Allan were also members of the New Zealand Under 20 side who won the World Championship in Georgia last year.
Brown, who replaces Joe Maddock as Head Coach of the Knights, said his squad was an exciting mix of developing club players, provincial talent and emerging international stars.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for the 19 young men to represent the Crusaders region, learn from experienced Knights players and test themselves against other promising players in New Zealand rugby.
"We are fortunate to be playing two of our three fixtures at home this year, and our away game will act as the curtain raiser for the Crusaders Super Rugby game against the Highlanders in Dunedin - so this is a genuine opportunity for these players to challenge themselves at a higher level and put their hand up as players to watch in future," Brown said.
Six members of last year's Crusaders Knights team have gone on to be named in Super Rugby squads for 2018; Ethan Blackadder, Jack Stratton, Braydon Ennor and Will Jordan will represent the BNZ Crusaders, while Josh McKay and Pari Pari Parkinson have been selected in the Highlanders squad. Another Crusaders Knights player, Ere Enari, was unlucky to be ruled out of his debut Super Rugby season with the Crusaders due to injury.
The Crusaders Knights have their first match against the Hurricanes development side in Christchurch on Sunday 25 February. Back-to-back fixtures against the Highlanders development side follow on March 10 and 17, with the first of these matches also played in Christchurch. The March 17 game will coincide with the BNZ Crusaders Investec Super Rugby match against the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Crusaders Knights squad 2018:
| Player | Province |
|---|
| Ryan Coxon | Tasman |
| Harrison Allan | Canterbury |
| Samuel Matenga | Canterbury |
| Blair Prinsep | Tasman |
| Nathan Vella | Canterbury |
| Sam Moli | Tasman |
| Hamish Dalzell | Canterbury |
| Ben Morris | Canterbury |
| Will Tucker | Canterbury |
| Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta | Tasman |
| Tom Christie | Canterbury |
| Anty Burnett | Tasman |
| Dylan Nel | Canterbury |
| Sam Godwin | Canterbury |
| Ryota Hasegawa | Crusaders IHPU |
| Jack Grooby | Tasman |
| Harrison Kirk | Canterbury |
| Jonny Van der Valde | Canterbury |
| Brett Cameron | Canterbury |
| Rameka Poihipi | Canterbury |
| James Hawkey | Tasman |
| Dallas McLeod | Canterbury |
| Ngane Punivai | Canterbury |
| Rupena Parkinson | Tasman |
| Tima Faingaanuku | Tasman |
| Leicester Faingaanuku | Tasman |
| Takuya Yamasawa | Crusaders IHPU |
| Tomas Aoake | Tasman |
| Zach McKay | Canterbury |
| Jamie Spowart | Tasman |
Crusaders Knights schedule 2018:
Sunday 25 February v Hurricanes, 1pm at Linfield Park, Christchurch
Saturday 10 March v Highlanders, 1:30pm at Linfield Park, Christchurch
Saturday 17 March v Highlanders, 5pm at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin