The Crusaders’ nine All Blacks who took part in the successful 2010 Grand Slam tour of the United Kingdom will visit the West Coast community early next year following the Pike River Mine disaster. The Crusaders team will also wear the West Coast rugby jersey for their first home game of the season.
Crusaders and All Blacks captain Richie McCaw along with Dan Carter, Sonny Bill Williams, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock, Kieran Read, Andy Ellis and Ben Franks will visit Hokitika and Greymouth on Wednesday, February 2.
Crusaders head coach Todd Blackadder will also travel with the players and said it was a small gesture for a community that was hurting following the disaster which killed 29 men in November.
He said: “We all feel for the West Coast community in this extremely tough time. The Coast is an important part of the Crusaders family and our visit and wearing their jersey are two ways we can try to lift their spirits. We’re all looking forward to spending the day on the Coast and paying special tribute to the community by wearing the red and white hoops of the West Coast in our first home game.”
The Crusaders’ first game at AMI Stadium for the 2011 season is the round three match against the Waratahs on Friday, March 4.
West Coast Rugby Union Chief Executive Mike Connors said the whole of the West Coast community would appreciate the Crusaders’ gestures. “It’s an absolutely fantastic gesture for Todd and that many players to come over at such a busy time of the year with the new Super Rugby competition about to start. It gives everyone, in particular the schoolchildren, something to look forward to,” he said.
“And for the team to wear the West Coast jersey is tremendous – it’s unprecedented in the Super Rugby competition and something we can’t wait to see.”
Todd and the players will fly into Hokitika on Wednesday, February 2 and spend time there before travelling to Greymouth where they will go to the Grey Main School.
All the West Coast community is invited to come and meet Todd and the players.
The Crusaders’ special edition red and white jersey for the Waratahs match will feature both the Crusaders and the West Coast Rugby Union logos. The 22 jerseys will be signed by the player who wore it in the match and auctioned on website Trade Me for the Pike River Mine mayoral fund.
Crusaders Chief Executive Hamish Riach said the Crusaders appreciated the help the NZRU and major sponsor adidas had provided in paving the way for the special edition jersey concept.
He said: “Everyone concerned has recognised the special nature of this cause and have made it easy for us to get this idea over the line.”
