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Former All Blacks assistant coach Brad Mooar returns to Crusaders
By Finn Morton
Former All Blacks assistant coach Brad Mooar is returning to the Crusaders after signing on until 2026. Mooar was part of the coaching group from 2015 to 2019, which saw him play a part in the start of the Crusaders’ unprecedented Super Rugby dynasty.
With head coach Scott Robertson leading the charge, the Crusaders started their run of seven Super Rugby titles in as many years with a win over the Lions at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park in 2017. Those same sides met in the Super Rugby decider in Christchurch the following season.
Mooar was also part of the Crusaders’ set-up the year they beat a valiant Jaguares outfit in the 2019 decider. While the New Zealander ended up leaving the club, the Super Rugby giants kept winning trophies during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the few years that followed.
Ian Foster brought Mooar into the All Blacks’ coaching group in 2020, but the assistant was let go alongside John Plumtree in 2022 after a disastrous 2-1 series defeat to Ireland on New Zealand soil. New Zealand still went on to make the Rugby World Cup Final in 2023.
Mooar joined Gregor Townsend’s coaching crew at Scotland before the sport’s showpiece event, before later signing on with Felipe Contemponi’s Argentina earlier this year. But the decision to return home to the Crusaders is one that excites Mooar.
“My family and I are really happy to be back in Christchurch, and I’m really excited to be at Rugby Park again. It feels like coming home,” Mooar said in a statement.
“It’s wonderful to be back in the mix with the players and staff, and I’m looking forward to connecting with the community again.”
The Crusaders will hope that Mooar’s experience in coaching groups at a Rugby World Cup and the Six Nations can help the team bounce back in 2025. It’s been well reported but the Christchurch-based side fell to an uncharacteristically poor record last season.
Following a slow start to the season, the Crusaders ended up claiming headline-grabbing wins over New Zealand rivals the Chiefs and Blues, but they still didn’t make finals. With a 4-10 record, the then defending champions finished in ninth spot.
But Rob Penney is back for another season, and Matt Todd is a former All Black who brings a wealth of experience into the coaching crew himself. With Mooar joining the group, Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge is among those who are “really pleased” with this appointment.
“Brad has some awesome credentials. He is a quality coach and a quality human being,” coach Penney explained. “He has a proven success record and is going to offer the coaching group and the organisation a wealth of experience and knowledge.”
Assistant coach Matt Todd added: “It’s cool to be back working with some superb people that I’ve worked with previously, as well as building relationships with those that I hadn’t met before.”
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Before Schmidt came along I think its fair to say that nobody and I mean nobody had faith in the Australian domestic system and its ability to churn out players of test quality. Faced with Zero player depth, no distinct style of play, very few working combinations, an inexperienced team and a player and brain drain from Aussie rugby I think everyone believed Joe Schmidt was on a hiding to nothing. 12 tests later the Wallabies have a distinct style of play, working combinations across the park, are slowly building that player depth and have significantly enhanced their stock of good test quality players. Its taken alot of learnings but the project has rapidly surged forward in the last 2 months. What an upward trajectory its been. Before the Northern tour began many said 1 win would be enough to consider it a success. Well they have 2 and were in the contest against a determined Scottish team away from home. They never once shrunk and fought till the end. I also think about those 18 debutants you have mentioned. Imagine the benefit for them and for their Super Rugby franchises with them having now been exposed to a strong systems, with them having now been exposed to the learnings that only international rugby can bring. Imagine the confidence they can take back now into Super Rugby and also the knowledge now of what they have to do to reach that next level knowing its not beyond them. For too long during the Jones Era a sense of hopelessness pervaded the entire Australian set up both domestic and International. So many players saw their dreams fade into dust and others saw their futures evaporate while some became so disillusioned they turned to League. Now Schmidt has brought back hope and has given these lads a sense of purpose. Its almost as though rain has come after a long drought. Lets hope these shoots of green grow tall.
Go to commentsFolau made the abc community cry foul for sharing his beliefs . But what did he actually do wrong ? . Nothing , that’s why Folau won in court and the Australian rugby union had to pay him 4 million I think it was .
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