logo
All Black David Havili re-signs with Crusaders and NZ Rugby until 2027

All Black David Havili re-signs with Crusaders and NZ Rugby until 2027

NZ Herald21-05-2025

Crusaders captain and All Blacks utility David Havili has re-signed with New Zealand Rugby and the Christchurch-based Super Rugby Pacific franchise until the end of 2027.
Havili has played 30 tests for the All Blacks since making his debut in 2017 and made more than 130 appearances for the Crusaders.
The deal will see the 30-year-old remain in New Zealand until the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Havili says the prospect of bringing up 150 games for the Crusaders and being captain was a big draw card to put pen to paper, turning down offers from overseas clubs, to remain in New Zealand.
'I just felt it wasn't my time,' said Havili. 'I look back on the captains of this team ... they did the job, and I wanted to stay here.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The playoffs — how the top six shape up
The playoffs — how the top six shape up

Otago Daily Times

timean hour ago

  • Otago Daily Times

The playoffs — how the top six shape up

And then there were six. The new-look Super Rugby Pacific playoffs begin tonight. Hayden Meikle explains how it works and looks at the three qualifying finals. HOW IT WORKS There is a lot to be said for the top four teams playing semifinals, and the winners progressing straight to the final. Remember them glorious days? Sigh. Rightly or wrongly, an 11-team Super Rugby Pacific competition introduces a new six-team qualifying series this year. The top six from the regular season — 1 v 6, 2 v 5, 3 v 4 — play each other. The three winners plus the highest-ranked loser proceed to the semifinals next weekend. CRUSADERS v REDS Crusaders record: 11 wins, 3 losses, + 100 points differential, second after regular season. Reds record: 8 wins, 6 losses, +54 points differential, fifth after regular season. History: The Crusaders have won 13 of their past 14 games against the Reds, and triumphed 43-19 in round four. Remarkably, the Crusaders have not lost a playoff game since 2016 — helped that they missed the playoffs last year, obviously. They have won 20 of their past 21 games against Australian opposition in Christchurch. The only team to spoil that run? The Reds in 2024. The oil: Everyone outside the flatlands will be backing the Reds, but the sad reality is the Crusaders are good again. Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Scott Barrett and Ethan Blackadder set the platform, Noah Hotham and Rivez Reihana control the show, and Sevu Reece and Chay Fihaki do the damage out wide. The Reds will need big, booming games from loose forward stars Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight, but the real keys might be first five Tom Lynagh, who has a deadly accurate boot, and winger Lachie Anderson, fresh off four tries against the Drua. Prediction: Crusaders 35-22. Groan. CHIEFS v BLUES Chiefs record: 11 wins, 3 losses, +231 points differential, first after regular season. Blues record: 6 wins, 8 losses, +47 points differential, sixth after regular season. History: This is a rematch of last year's final, won 41-10 by the Blues. The Chiefs have won nine of their past 11 games against the Blues in Hamilton, but won just 32-31 earlier this season. The oil: Bit of a mismatch on paper as the Chiefs are clearly the best team in the competition and the Blues hold the ''in the playoffs but do not really deserve to be in the playoffs'' spot. The Chiefs are in the top three in every major statistical category this season and do not really have any weaknesses. Tupou Vaa'i, Luke Jacobson and Simon Parker are in smashing form in the pack, Damian McKenzie remains the most influential non-Ardie player in Super Rugby, and there is an embarrassment of riches out wide. The Blues will match up in areas but you sense they will need enormous performances from Hoskins Sotutu, Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane to stay close. Prediction: Chiefs 42-20. BRUMBIES v HURRICANES Brumbies record: 9 wins, 5 losses, +87 points differential, third after regular season. Hurricanes record: 8 wins, 1 draw, 5 losses, +106 points differential, fourth after regular season. History: The Brumbies have won two straight playoff games against the Hurricanes. But the Canes had a 35-29 win when the teams met in Canberra in round 11, and are riding a six-game undefeated streak. The oil: Potentially the most intriguing playoff game yet quite possibly one that is basically meaningless. Assuming the Crusaders and the Chiefs win, both these teams will be safely in the semifinals, and with no possibility of playing for home advantage. Weird. The Brumbies are consistent and calm and all the sorts of things you like to see in the crunch stages, and Rob Valetini, Noah Lolesio, Len Ikitau and Tom Wright are class acts. But beware the booming Hurricanes. They are red-hot, powered by Tyrel Lomax, Du'Plessis Kirifi and Peter Lakai, and ignited by Cam Roigard and Ruben Love, and they will sense an upset. Prediction: Hurricanes 32-29 in a thriller.

Pasifika advocate work recognised
Pasifika advocate work recognised

Otago Daily Times

timean hour ago

  • Otago Daily Times

Pasifika advocate work recognised

A love of community and a love of rugby have been the driving forces behind a Timaru lawyer's recent recognition. Aoraki Legal director and lawyer Pauline-Jean Luyten was the co-founder of the South Canterbury Tongan Society and has been a stalwart advocate and trailblazer for the Pasifika community in the world of New Zealand rugby. For her services to rugby and the Pacific community she has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) as part of this year's King's Birthday Honours. She joked that she felt a bit too young to be receiving the honour. "Compared to some who normally might get this, I still haven't finished my tenure and all the things that we're trying to achieve." It felt a bit weird, or even premature, she said. "The stuff we do is never for ourselves, it's always for your community and to see what differences you can make. "For me personally, it's validation, I guess, that I'm on the right track and responding to what our communities need. "It's also exciting to be sharing it with Sina Latu, to both be put forward with the Pacific community aspects of it is pretty cool." Ms Luyten has led several strengths-based cultural, social and wellbeing initiatives across South Canterbury and in the rugby world became the first Pacific woman appointed to the South Canterbury Provincial Rugby Union Board and in 2022 the first Pacific woman to be appointed to the New Zealand Rugby (NZR) Board as an emerging director. She was appointed to the NZR Pasifika Advisory Group and elected co-chair in 2021 and in 2024 helped secure Pacific representation within the NZR's new governance structure. Ms Luyten said her work centred around trying to normalise cultural differences. "Just because people come from different cultures doesn't mean you actually haven't got the common ground or the common goals." She said receiving the honour made her reflect on the work she had done and how great it had been to combine her passions. "It's actually been pretty amazing doing that. "It's kind of almost gone full circle, because when I first started, I was looking at being a sports lawyer. "It never eventuated, but it's kind of gone full circle where I've been doing it in sports governance and applying some of those skills and assets to it." She said her current goal was working with the New Zealand Pasifika Rugby Council to have them become a voting member of New Zealand Rugby. "On the 8th of May, there was a vote, we got 61% and we needed 61.3% to pass muster, so we're hoping that could happen by the end of the year. "The value of being effectively a stakeholder or shareholder is huge. "One day I'll also do my PhD, but I don't think anyone can make me do it right now." She was very grateful to everyone that had played a part in her receiving the honour. "I want to thank my immediate family, my kids, my twin sister, my firm and the Pacific Advisory Group. "I also want to acknowledge my late father Henry, who couldn't be here to see this — he would be blown away. "Also my mum, she is one of the elders and she's been here as one of the first Tongans to arrive in 1970." She wanted to acknowledge everyone who had welcomed and had worked with her and her family. "I'm born and raised here, so I've lived in both worlds but so many people were warm and welcoming."

Hurricanes lose All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua for Super Rugby playoff
Hurricanes lose All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua for Super Rugby playoff

RNZ News

time17 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Hurricanes lose All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua for Super Rugby playoff

Asafo Aumua won't play the Brumbies this weekend. Photo: Photosport The Hurricanes will be without All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua for Saturday night's Super Rugby qualifying final against the Brumbies in Canberra. Aumua was named to start on Wednesday but on Thursday he was ruled out with the Hurricanes confirming he has a hamstring injury and won't travel to Australia. Ruben Love and Asafo Aumua of the Hurricanes celebrate, 2024 Photo: PHOTOSPORT He has now been replaced by Jacob Devery, with Raymond Tuputupu remaining on the bench. Aumua, the Hurricanes co-captain, copped a blow to the knee at the team's training on Tuesday at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport in Upper Hutt. He had to be transported away from training on a cart. The All Blacks front rower didn't play in last Saturday night's 64-12 win over Moana Pasifika in Wellington due to concussion. The latest injury puts him in doubt for the rest of the finals should the Hurricanes progress. Despite the blow, the Hurricanes are only thinking about winning as they prepare for this weekend's first round of finals. The fourth placed Hurricanes travel to Canberra, while top qualifier the Chiefs host the Blues and second seeds the Crusaders play the Reds. The schedule has the Brumbies-Hurricanes game last. If results go to seedings in the earlier games and the Chiefs beat the Blues and the Crusaders beat the Reds, then the Brumbies and Hurricanes will play each other knowing that no matter what the result they will both qualify for the semi-finals. Under a new format this season, the highest ranking loser from the three games will qualify for the semi-finals. Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw said earlier this week that the 'lucky loser' situation is not something he is thinking about. "If the Crusaders lose and we win, we got a home semi so there's another scenario we might have to think about," Laidlaw said. "I've never gone into a game of rugby thinking we might want to lose, so it will be all guns blazing and we'll get ready for it.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store