The 2025 Super Rugby Pacific is fast approaching and with the first preseason game next week, the Crusaders are excited to announce David Havili as our Captain for the 2025 season.
Havili has 128 appearances for the Crusaders and five All Black tours under his belt since debuting in 2015, he was named Vice Captain in 2020 and has long been part of the squads' all-important Leadership Group.
No stranger to captaining in the red and black jersey, Havili has led the side on several occasions over the years when his predecessor, Scott Barrett, was unavailable for selection and captained his provincial side, Tasman Makos, to victory for the 2019 and 2020 seasons of NPC.
Straight off the bat from holidaying in hometown Motueka over the Christmas period, Havili returns to camp this week and addressed the group for the first time Wednesday morning as captain.
“It’s very humbling. I was pretty blown away when Penney approached me,” said Havili,“this is certainly the proudest moment I have had for a while. The Crusaders are all about community, and I love this team”.
Head Coach, Rob Penney said “we’ve already seen Davey prove himself in this role over the last couple of years, he’s a man that cares deeply about the team and their way forward. He is going to be exceptional”.
"He's been an integral part of a lot of the success.
"He's a very humble man with a deep layer of strength and is strong and value-based. He's family-orientated and cares deeply about this place and the people within it. That will be reflective of how he leads the Crusaders.
"People will be very excited to see him in this role."
When his appointment for the Super Rugby Pacific season was confirmed on Wednesday in Christchurch, Havili said he took a couple of weeks to say 'yes'.
"I just wanted to make sure that I was going to get everything from me. The last time I was in captaincy was with Tasman; it takes a lot; you have to give a lot to the team.
Havili said he sought advice from his partner, outgoing captain lock Scott Barrett, and a few other more experienced players and got the advice that he was a good candidate for the job. He said he wanted to know if the players would back him and follow him.
"The guys in the leadership group said I was a good man for the job. I want to do my best for this team and lead them in the right stead.
He said he wanted to be a captain who connected to everyone while being down to earth.
"I love the game. I'm a nerd of the rugby game and I love to help."
While he is the first back appointed to the Crusaders captaincy role, he said he would seek help from the experienced players.
"There are a lot of guys who have played a lot of Test matches, and a lot of games for the Crusaders."
He can also call on the leadership he has played under, including Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Sam Whitelock, and Scott Barrett, for examples of the role.
"I've seen how they led the team and I've definitely taken a lot from those guys. They are the greats of our club."
Picking the side up from the disappointments of 2024 was going to be a new challenge.
"From those seven titles [the Crusaders won], you learn a lot about winning. There has been some downs and some lows on the way through those titles as well. I've seen both sides."
But it was about making the connections.
"When times get tough and the pressure comes on, when we get into the tough games back-to-back, that's where you start to build trust.
"All I want to do is make my players, and my team, trust that I'll be there in the big moments for them."
Havili said he was feeling in good condition ahead of the new campaign and is looking forward to having Wallaby James O'Connor's experience in the backline.
