EXCLUSIVE – Crusaders captain David Havili to join Toshiba

Crusaders captain and All Black David Havili will join two-time League One champions Toshiba Brave Lupus, RugbyJP.com understands.

Havili, 31, has spent his entire Super Rugby career with the Christchurch-based powerhouse franchise and this year’s semi-finalists announced on Tuesday that he will be taking up a new opportunity in Japan.

The 32-cap All Black finished the season strongly in red and black and is proud of the legacy he will leave behind at incoming head coach Scott Hansen’s Crusaders.

“I definitely feel like it’s time for me to move on with the next generation coming through. The legacy is in great hands,” said the Nelson native.

“I’m very content. I know that I’ve done everything I can and I’m very proud of my journey and where I’ve come from. To be able to live out my dream here for around 15 years and be part of this legacy with some of the best players that have ever come through this club, it’s been an extreme honour.”

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Toshiba boasts strong ties with the Crusaders with their head coach Todd Blackadder making 71 appearances for the club as a player and then leading the side to two Super Rugby Finals as a coach.

Star fly-half and two-time League One MVP Richie Mo’unga, who was instrumental in Toshiba’s back-to-back title wins, has returned to the Crusaders where he won seven league titles under Scott Robertson.

Outgoing Toshiba midfielder Seta Tamanivalu enjoyed a title-winning year with the Crusaders in 2017.

Blackadder’s team, who were knocked out in the quarter-finals by eventual runners-up Kubota Spears in May, have lost all three of their marquee Category C players (capped by a country other than Japan).

Mo’unga, Tamanivalu and Highlanders-bound Shannon Frizell have all departed.

Each League One team can field a maximum of three Category C players (Test players capped by a country other than Japan) and Toshiba has acted quickly to sign some high-profile replacements.

Havili will replace his ex-Crusaders colleague Tamanivalu, whose next move is yet to be announced, while Scottish international Jack Dempsey has been drafted in to fill the void left by Frizell. This will leave one open spot on their roster for a third and final international Test player which is likely to be a new fly-half to replace Mo'unga.

World Cup runner-up Havili, who has also played at fly-half and full-back, is set to form a potent midfield partnership with recent Japan call-up Rob Thompson.

Havili added: “It’s the people I’ll miss the most. The banter, travelling with the boys, those connections. Everyone cares about the jersey and has a common goal.”

“I’m excited for a different pace and a new challenge. I feel like I’ve still got more to give.”

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