Crusaders confirm head coach Rob Penney’s return for Super Rugby Pacific title defence
Wednesday, 30 July 2025
Rob Penney will be at the helm of the Crusaders for their Super Rugby Pacific title defence next year.
The Crusaders confirmed on Wednesday Penney had agreed to a one-year extension, ensuring his return for a third campaign, and the red and blacks’ debut in Christchurch’s new indoor stadium.
Penney’s return was essentially a given - Stuff reported his return was expected earlier this month - after he guided the Crusaders back to the top of the pile in June.
However, the 61-year-old maintained he would wait to make a decision until after the season review had been completed.
“No, not in my mind. But I never verbalised that to anyone else,” Penney said when asked if he ever considered not returning.
“I just wanted due process to take place, and I'm happy that the stars have aligned.”
He will be joined by the same band of assistants - James Marshall, Brad Mooar, Dan Perrin, Matt Todd and Ryan Crotty.
Penney’s deal doesn’t include a 2027 option. Instead, chief executive Colin Mansbridge confirmed, they will take a similar approach to this year after the 2026 campaign.
“Very much so, there is a lot of talent in that coaching room and there are people that are hungry to expand their wings. We will just get through this one,” Penney said of his plan to take it year by year.
“I love coaching, and I love this group and this organisation. I've said many times that it's deeply embedded in me and this [job] will be me. When it's done, it's done.”
Having won 14 of 17 games during a redeeming campaign, Penney’s record in charge of the Crusaders reads: 18 wins and 13 losses.
Since toppling the Chiefs in Christchurch in the decider, Penney spent some time reflecting on the triumphant season while holidaying in the Marlborough Sounds.
That included re-watching the final during a rainy day, before it was time to turn the page.
“I moved pretty quickly into 2026. Great to get the result, great to get the outcome, but that's history now. I wanted to make sure if I was going to be remaining here that the planning was well in place, and we're well on track to get 2026 underway.”
The Crusaders only have a few spots to plug in their 2026 roster, which will essentially have the same core as this year.
Midfielder Levi Aumua, pivot James O’Connor, lock Quinten Strange and hooker Ioane Moananu are confirmed departures, while the Crusaders are also preparing to be without All Blacks skipper Scott Barrett for the majority of the season at a minimum.
Barrett hasn’t yet confirmed his plan to utilise the non-playing sabbatical in his contract, but Mansbridge and Penney said they expected him to follow in Codie Taylor’s 2024 tracks, when he returned late in the regular season.
“Pretty certain he will do something, and he has earned the right. That big body of his has been knocked around both for the Crusaders and All Blacks for a long time,” Penney said.
“As Codie did 18 months ago, I suspect he will have a good break and he deserves it. It will be up to other people in the group to step up, and when Scoot is back we will welcome him back with open arms.”
The Crusaders are well equipped in the second row, with Antonio Shalfoon, Jamie Hannah and Tahlor Cahill, while Liam Jack, the son of former Crusaders lock Graham Jack, and nephew of Crusaders centurion Chris Jack, is coming through the system.
The prospect of Jack excites the Crusaders, as does the return of blockbusting utility back Leicester Fainga’anuku after two seasons in France.
Predominantly a wing for the Crusaders before he mostly operated in the midfield at Toulon, while also finishing some games in the loose forwards, Penney said the 25-year-old was an important part of the 2026 puzzle.
“We have some pretty innovative thinkers in our room that want to put him in all sorts of positions, and he's open to it.
“But the reality is his strength and his experience will be midfield/outsides.”