The Crusaders will embark on their first ever pre-season international tour and are scheduled to take on United Rugby Championship title holders Munster and Premiership outfit in fixtures scheduled for February 2024.
It will be a momentous occasion for the Super Rugby Pacific champions’ new head coach, Rob Penney, as they are set to face Munster, whom he coached between 2012 and 2014, on Saturday, February 3 before they take on Bristol Bears on Friday 9 February.
It will be the Crusaders’ first match in Europe since their clash against the Sharks at Twickenham as part of the 2011 Super Rugby season, following the earthquakes in Christchurch that year.
Excitement in Crusaders ranks
Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge is excited about the prospect of playing matches in Europe again.
“The Crusaders are thrilled to be coming over to the UK and Ireland to face some stiff competition away from home,” he said. “NZ and Australian clubs have been working on the World Club Competition for years, so when an opportunity for Super teams to play northern hemisphere counterparts came up, it was just too good to pass up.”
Munster won the 2022/23 United Rugby Championship when they beat the defending champions, the Stormers, in Cape Town last month.
“Munster have a history of giving touring sides a pretty hard time, so they present particularly tough competition. There’s also the added connection with our new head coach Rob Penney who coached there,” said Mansbridge.
Meanwhile, Bristol Bears are seasoned campaigners in the Premiership and topped that competition’s table at the end of 2020/21’s regular season. They won the Challenge Cup in 2019/2020 after beating Top 14 outfit Toulon in the final.
“It’s exciting to play against a club of Bristol’s calibre, and one that we already have a relationship with. Razor (Scott Robertson) and Pat Lam have been close for a long time, and Bristol Bears Academy member Andrew Turner made his Crusaders debut this year,” said Mansbridge.
“It’s also a fantastic chance for our new coaching group to connect, and for our playing group to travel and compete together in a new environment.”
Lam, who is Bristol Bears’ director of rugby, said: Tto be able to welcome one of the best club sides on the planet to Ashton Gate is incredibly special and this fixture is a unique opportunity for our players, staff and supporters.
“The Crusaders are the reigning Super Rugby champions and we’re relishing the opportunity to take on the best club side in the Southern Hemisphere at what is sure to be a packed-out Ashton Gate,” Lam said.
‘Ground-breaking fixture’
Munster chief executive Ian Flanagan said the Irish province is “delighted to welcome the Super Rugby champions to Munster, hosting a ground-breaking fixture against the Crusaders.
“We hold a proud and rich history of playing touring sides and I’ve no doubt next February’s game will be a special occasion for all involved.”
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The article Crusaders set to face European heavyweights on pre-season tour in 2024 appeared first on Planetrugby.com.
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