Latest news with #Havili
NZ Herald
21-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
All Black David Havili re-signs with Crusaders and NZ Rugby until 2027
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.
eNCA
17-05-2025
- Sport
- eNCA
Crusaders hail O'Connor as Wallabies trump card in Lions series
AUSTRALIA - The Canterbury Crusaders say veteran fly-half James O'Connor still boasts international quality and would be a potential Australian match-winner if named to face the British and Irish Lions. O'Connor, 34, has been a revelation for the Crusaders in their climb to second place on the Super Rugby standings, impressing again off the reserves bench in a 48-33 win over the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney on Friday. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said last week he is considering the merits of the versatile back, who played the last of 64 Tests nearly three years ago. Crusaders captain David Havili believed O'Connor could be a trump card in the three-Test series against the Lions starting in July. "He's been there, done it before, and certainly if I was picking a team, he'd be there," Havili said Friday of O'Connor, who has been used primarily off the bench by the 14-time Super Rugby champions. "I think him being able to come on and finish games is exactly what you need in big Test matches. "He's been around the world, played in massive games, big stadiums, and he knows what it's about." O'Connor started all three Tests at fly-half when Australia last hosted the Lions, in 2013 when the tourists prevailed 2-1. Havili said the Australian's experience and engaging approach had been invaluable to the development of the Crusaders' youthful fly-halves - Taha Kemara and Rivez Reihana. "He's just a great person to have on your team, regardless of the rugby and the fact that he's got a great mind on him." O'Connor's precision on attack in Sydney helped an under-strength Crusaders notch a ninth win from 12 games to guarantee they will qualify for the top-six finals in June. Without All Blacks forwards Scott Barrett, Codie Taylor and Fletcher Newell, the visitors still had too much for the Waratahs pack, while former Wales international Johnny McNicholl performed ably at fullback for the injured Will Jordan. All Black Sevu Reece was among the seven Crusaders' try-scorers. It lifted the winger to 65 Super Rugby tries, level with former Wellington Hurricanes scrum-half TJ Perenara for the most by any player in the competition's history.
France 24
17-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Crusaders hail O'Connor as Wallabies trump card in Lions series
O'Connor, 34, has been a revelation for the Crusaders in their climb to second place on the Super Rugby standings, impressing again off the reserves bench in a 48-33 win over the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney on Friday. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said last week he is considering the merits of the versatile back, who played the last of 64 Tests nearly three years ago. Crusaders captain David Havili believed O'Connor could be a trump card in the three-Test series against the Lions starting in July. "He's been there, done it before, and certainly if I was picking a team, he'd be there," Havili said Friday of O'Connor, who has been used primarily off the bench by the 14-time Super Rugby champions. "I think him being able to come on and finish games is exactly what you need in big Test matches. "He's been around the world, played in massive games, big stadiums, and he knows what it's about." O'Connor started all three Tests at fly-half when Australia last hosted the Lions, in 2013 when the tourists prevailed 2-1. Havili said the Australian's experience and engaging approach had been invaluable to the development of the Crusaders' youthful fly-halves - Taha Kemara and Rivez Reihana. "He's just a great person to have on your team, regardless of the rugby and the fact that he's got a great mind on him." O'Connor's precision on attack in Sydney helped an under-strength Crusaders notch a ninth win from 12 games to guarantee they will qualify for the top-six finals in June. Without All Blacks forwards Scott Barrett, Codie Taylor and Fletcher Newell, the visitors still had too much for the Waratahs pack, while former Wales international Johnny McNicholl performed ably at fullback for the injured Will Jordan. All Black Sevu Reece was among the seven Crusaders' try-scorers. It lifted the winger to 65 Super Rugby tries, level with former Wellington Hurricanes scrum-half TJ Perenara for the most by any player in the competition's history. © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Crusaders hail O'Connor as Wallabies trump card in Lions series
The Canterbury Crusaders say veteran fly-half James O'Connor still boasts international quality and would be a potential Australian match-winner if named to face the British and Irish Lions. O'Connor, 34, has been a revelation for the Crusaders in their climb to second place on the Super Rugby standings, impressing again off the reserves bench in a 48-33 win over the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney on Friday. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said last week he is considering the merits of the versatile back, who played the last of 64 Tests nearly three years ago. Crusaders captain David Havili believed O'Connor could be a trump card in the three-Test series against the Lions starting in July. "He's been there, done it before, and certainly if I was picking a team, he'd be there," Havili said Friday of O'Connor, who has been used primarily off the bench by the 14-time Super Rugby champions. "I think him being able to come on and finish games is exactly what you need in big Test matches. "He's been around the world, played in massive games, big stadiums, and he knows what it's about." O'Connor started all three Tests at fly-half when Australia last hosted the Lions, in 2013 when the tourists prevailed 2-1. Havili said the Australian's experience and engaging approach had been invaluable to the development of the Crusaders' youthful fly-halves - Taha Kemara and Rivez Reihana. "He's just a great person to have on your team, regardless of the rugby and the fact that he's got a great mind on him." O'Connor's precision on attack in Sydney helped an under-strength Crusaders notch a ninth win from 12 games to guarantee they will qualify for the top-six finals in June. Without All Blacks forwards Scott Barrett, Codie Taylor and Fletcher Newell, the visitors still had too much for the Waratahs pack, while former Wales international Johnny McNicholl performed ably at fullback for the injured Will Jordan. All Black Sevu Reece was among the seven Crusaders' try-scorers. It lifted the winger to 65 Super Rugby tries, level with former Wellington Hurricanes scrum-half TJ Perenara for the most by any player in the competition's history. dgi/lb
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Crusaders hail O'Connor as Wallabies trump card in Lions series
The Canterbury Crusaders say veteran fly-half James O'Connor still boasts international quality and would be a potential Australian match-winner if named to face the British and Irish Lions. O'Connor, 34, has been a revelation for the Crusaders in their climb to second place on the Super Rugby standings, impressing again off the reserves bench in a 48-33 win over the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney on Friday. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said last week he is considering the merits of the versatile back, who played the last of 64 Tests nearly three years ago. Crusaders captain David Havili believed O'Connor could be a trump card in the three-Test series against the Lions starting in July. "He's been there, done it before, and certainly if I was picking a team, he'd be there," Havili said Friday of O'Connor, who has been used primarily off the bench by the 14-time Super Rugby champions. "I think him being able to come on and finish games is exactly what you need in big Test matches. "He's been around the world, played in massive games, big stadiums, and he knows what it's about." O'Connor started all three Tests at fly-half when Australia last hosted the Lions, in 2013 when the tourists prevailed 2-1. Havili said the Australian's experience and engaging approach had been invaluable to the development of the Crusaders' youthful fly-halves - Taha Kemara and Rivez Reihana. "He's just a great person to have on your team, regardless of the rugby and the fact that he's got a great mind on him." O'Connor's precision on attack in Sydney helped an under-strength Crusaders notch a ninth win from 12 games to guarantee they will qualify for the top-six finals in June. Without All Blacks forwards Scott Barrett, Codie Taylor and Fletcher Newell, the visitors still had too much for the Waratahs pack, while former Wales international Johnny McNicholl performed ably at fullback for the injured Will Jordan. All Black Sevu Reece was among the seven Crusaders' try-scorers. It lifted the winger to 65 Super Rugby tries, level with former Wellington Hurricanes scrum-half TJ Perenara for the most by any player in the competition's history. dgi/lb
