New Zealand's Crusaders rugby program has announced the rebranding of the Crusaders International Academy to the Crusaders Global Academy, marking a bold new chapter in the franchise’s commitment to growing the game of rugby worldwide.
Established in 2008 by Robbie Deans, the Academy has long been a hub for elite player and coach development.
With over 1,500 players and coaches hosted in Christchurch and 52 rugby clubs impacted globally since its inception, the Academy has become a go-to destination for cutting-edge rugby education and performance excellence.
“Our role is to improve players’ skillsets, raise their rugby IQ, and help coaches understand what makes the Crusaders environment so special,” says Crusaders Global Academy Manager Grant Keenan. “We’re proud to be the only professional rugby franchise offering a Global Academy programme where players and coaches can witness the Crusaders working through their training week in preparation for their upcoming match, and we’re excited to continue growing in this space.”
A critical aspect to the success of the Global Academy is the quality of coaches who deliver the programme in both New Zealand and around the world.
“We have exceptional coaches who are involved in our programme from current Crusaders coaches Brad Mooar and Dan Perrin to legends of the game including Reuben Thorne and Kendra Cocksedge,” says Keenan. "We are thrilled to confirm that All Blacks and Crusaders legend, Samuel Whitelock recently joined our coaching group in Argentina and made a huge impact on the players and coaches."
Former All Black Sam Whitelock showcasing how to offload.
Grant Keenan
