Super Rugby Pacific: Crusaders hail Rob Penney after winning yet another title

Sunday, 22 June 2025

The sight of Rob Penney singing and grooving in the Crusaders’ changing shed brought a heck of a smile to Sevu Reece’s dial.

“This championship, that was for him tonight,” the Crusaders wing said after briefly stepping aside from the team’s celebrations in Christchurch on Saturday night.

Less than 90 minutes after the Crusaders beat the Chiefs to seal their latest crown, Reece’s voice was already starting to fade as celebrations ramped up.

While he spoke to media, players were in full song to Dolly Parton’s Islands in the Stream, before they belted out Dobie Gray’s Drift Away.

Meanwhile, in stark contrast, despondent Chiefs pivot Damian McKenzie stood alone outside the Chiefs’ adjacent changing shed, silent and leaning on the extended handle of his game day suitcase.

While he wasn’t sticking around, the Crusaders sure were.

“A long time. Man, it was a huge effort,” Crusaders captain David Havili said of how long he planned to party.

Penney had earlier sucked back a beer before offering the following words: “That didn’t touch the sides.”

And who could blame him?

Penney had guided the Crusaders back to the top of the pile, burying the dud that was 2024, when they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

And his ability to coach at the Super Rugby level wasn’t just questioned after last year, Penney also copped plenty of stick after he was sacked by the Waratahs in 2021.

“Seeing our coach do a few dance moves in there makes us happy. Because he's been through a lot. Tonight was especially for him,” Reece said.

Havili and vice-captain Codie Taylor, who scored the Crusaders’ lone try in the decider, echoed Reece on a night the red and blacks extended their home playoff record to a staggering 32-0.

“So good to get it done for Pens, he's been dragged through it all last year and to come out of the other side with a title is pretty special,” Havili said.

Penney later took a break from the dancing, singing and drinking to speak to media in a damp and chilly tent on the western fringe of the stadium site.

And, as was the case during recent weeks, he was mostly deflective when asked what leading the Crusaders to Super Rugby glory meant.

However, when advised players had said they had done it for him, he at least opened up a tad.

“Ohh, that's going to bring a tear to my eye…” Penney said.

“For me personally, it's just the joy they have right at this moment, with their families, they are deep in song, they are wrapped in each others arms and it's just such a pleasure to be able to contribute in some small way to that feeling for these young men.”

The Crusaders got plenty of big contributions to condemn the Chiefs to a third straight loss in a final, most notably from fullback Will Jordan, pivot Rivez Reihana and Taylor.

Banged up props Fletcher Newell, who played the entire match, and Tamaiti Williams were also huge in a game the Crusaders were reduced to 14 players after Havili was yellow carded for head-on-head contact with Emoni Narawa in the first half.

Fortunately for the Crusaders, they got their first-year captain back, but only after he passed an HIA he admitted to being anxious ahead of given players have been known to fail them when they aren’t concussed.

“I knew I wasn't concussed. But obviously you are going into a room where you take your boots off, the adrenalin is still going through your body, and you're sweating.

“You've got to bring your body down so you can pass the test. I wanted to make sure when I was walking up the tunnel, get my heartbeat down. I was happy enough to be able to pass it.”

Despite an ever-growing shiner above his left eye, he was even happier later when he paused to have a photograph taken with Penney, Super Rugby winners’ medals hanging from from their necks.

It was then back to the party.

“I am renowned for my ability on the dance floor, so it goes without saying,” Penney said.