Blackadder, Hammett on new Crusade?
Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:19
Reports from New Zealand indicate that Canterbury rugby stalwart Todd Blackadder and former team-mate Mark Hammett have been picked to succeed Robbie Deans at the helm of the Crusaders Super 14 side.
Deans left the Crusaders after winning his fifth Super Rugby title with the franchise this year, taking up a four-year contract to coach Australia's national side.
Blackadder and Hammett are expected to be assisted by another former Crusader, Daryl Gibson, according to the Dominion Post.
Blackadder had a playing and coaching stint in Scotland after wrapping up his New Zealand playing career in 2001.
Blackadder played 71 games for the Crusaders and 128 matches for Canterbury. He captained the All Blacks in 10 of his 12 Tests.
Blackadder is the Tasman coach, while Hammett assisted Deans at the Crusaders this year.
Despite the reports, a Crusaders Chairman Murray Ellis played down the reports, and said that the decision had not been finalised, according to rugbyheaven.co.nz.
"We are aware of the speculation, and that's all it is at the moment," Ellis said.
"We have not made an announcement and we're not ready to at this stage.
"There is still work going on, and until we have completed that we can't really comment because it would be unfair to everybody."
Ellis said confirmation of the Crusaders new coaching lineup for 2009 could be finalised by Wednesday.
SAPA
