dailywaffle
28th-January-2007, 21:26
<H1>Canterbury, Crusaders pay tribute to Aaron Mauger</H1>
January 29, 2007
<DIV =content>
Leading Canterbury and Crusaders rugby officials today paid tribute to the contribution All Black Aaron Mauger had made to both organisations, on the announcement of his season-ending move to English club Leicester.
“The magnitude of his contribution is best summed up by all that he has been part of,” Crusaders and Canterbury chief executive Hamish Riach said.
“Aaron has been involved in four Super rugby titles and two other finals from his seven seasons thus far as a Crusader. He has also shared in two New Zealand domestic titles with Canterbury, as well as being associated with winning the Ranfurly Shield twice. It is a very impressive legacy.”
While Mauger leaves with the best wishes of the Canterbury and Crusaders public after this year’s Rugby World Cup, Riach said it was a reflection of the mutual goodwill in the relationship that the 26-year-old was committed to returning to Canterbury and the Crusaders at a later date to see out his career.
“That intention, unofficial as it may be at this stage, in itself signifies both what Canterbury and the Crusaders mean to Aaron, and how highly we have valued his input over the years.”
Mauger debuted for Canterbury as an 18-year-old against Counties Manukau in 1999.
He has since appeared 42 times for the province, and was captain in his most recent outing: last year’s Air New Zealand Cup quarterfinal against Wellington.
Less than a year after his Canterbury debut, Mauger was a Crusader, taking his Super rugby bow in 2000 against the Chiefs.
Seven years on, Mauger has 82 Crusaders appearances to his name, having shared in the title wins of 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2006, as well as featuring in the 2003 and 2004 finals.
He made his All Black debut in the same Test match as current Crusaders and All Black skipper Richard McCaw in 2001 against Ireland at Dublin, scoring his first try 54 minutes into his Test career. He subsequently led New Zealandagainst the Barbarians at Twickenham in 2004 and starts 2007 with 38 caps to his name.
Mauger’s older brother Nathan was also an All Black on the 2001 tour, with the then Linwood club-based brothers following in the footsteps of their uncles, Canterbury All Blacks Stephen and Graeme Bachop, who had previously been the most recent All Black brothers.
The Mauger boys grew up and played all of their junior rugby in Lyttleton on the other side of the Port Hills from Christchurch.
Robbie Deans, who first introduced Mauger to both the Canterbury and Crusaders environments as well as being involved on the coaching staff when he first graced the All Blacks, says his impact has been such that he helped to change the expectation of his regular second-five-eighths position.
“Having Aaron at second-five-eighths gives any team he plays for a second decision maker. He has always effectively played as a second, first-five-eighths, whether he was outside ‘Mehrts’ (Andrew Mehrtens), ‘DC’ (Daniel Carter) or any of the other players he has combined with.
“What that achieves is to double the decision making threat to any opposing defensive line, while also relieving a fair weight of the decision making pressure off the man inside him.”
Deans acknowledged Mauger’s dedication to the Canterbury and Crusaders cause over the years, adding that he was sorry to see him depart.
“Leicester is getting a very special player, and one who still has a lot to offer in his career. Hopefully he will add to all that he has achieved here with the Crusaders in the time before he departs,” Deans said.
“I know the players, coaching staff and fans at the Leicester Tigers will quickly come to value Aaron as a player as much as we do at the Crusaders and with Canterbury.”
The Crusaders’ coaches’ comments were echoed by Canterbury c
January 29, 2007
<DIV =content>
Leading Canterbury and Crusaders rugby officials today paid tribute to the contribution All Black Aaron Mauger had made to both organisations, on the announcement of his season-ending move to English club Leicester.
“The magnitude of his contribution is best summed up by all that he has been part of,” Crusaders and Canterbury chief executive Hamish Riach said.
“Aaron has been involved in four Super rugby titles and two other finals from his seven seasons thus far as a Crusader. He has also shared in two New Zealand domestic titles with Canterbury, as well as being associated with winning the Ranfurly Shield twice. It is a very impressive legacy.”
While Mauger leaves with the best wishes of the Canterbury and Crusaders public after this year’s Rugby World Cup, Riach said it was a reflection of the mutual goodwill in the relationship that the 26-year-old was committed to returning to Canterbury and the Crusaders at a later date to see out his career.
“That intention, unofficial as it may be at this stage, in itself signifies both what Canterbury and the Crusaders mean to Aaron, and how highly we have valued his input over the years.”
Mauger debuted for Canterbury as an 18-year-old against Counties Manukau in 1999.
He has since appeared 42 times for the province, and was captain in his most recent outing: last year’s Air New Zealand Cup quarterfinal against Wellington.
Less than a year after his Canterbury debut, Mauger was a Crusader, taking his Super rugby bow in 2000 against the Chiefs.
Seven years on, Mauger has 82 Crusaders appearances to his name, having shared in the title wins of 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2006, as well as featuring in the 2003 and 2004 finals.
He made his All Black debut in the same Test match as current Crusaders and All Black skipper Richard McCaw in 2001 against Ireland at Dublin, scoring his first try 54 minutes into his Test career. He subsequently led New Zealandagainst the Barbarians at Twickenham in 2004 and starts 2007 with 38 caps to his name.
Mauger’s older brother Nathan was also an All Black on the 2001 tour, with the then Linwood club-based brothers following in the footsteps of their uncles, Canterbury All Blacks Stephen and Graeme Bachop, who had previously been the most recent All Black brothers.
The Mauger boys grew up and played all of their junior rugby in Lyttleton on the other side of the Port Hills from Christchurch.
Robbie Deans, who first introduced Mauger to both the Canterbury and Crusaders environments as well as being involved on the coaching staff when he first graced the All Blacks, says his impact has been such that he helped to change the expectation of his regular second-five-eighths position.
“Having Aaron at second-five-eighths gives any team he plays for a second decision maker. He has always effectively played as a second, first-five-eighths, whether he was outside ‘Mehrts’ (Andrew Mehrtens), ‘DC’ (Daniel Carter) or any of the other players he has combined with.
“What that achieves is to double the decision making threat to any opposing defensive line, while also relieving a fair weight of the decision making pressure off the man inside him.”
Deans acknowledged Mauger’s dedication to the Canterbury and Crusaders cause over the years, adding that he was sorry to see him depart.
“Leicester is getting a very special player, and one who still has a lot to offer in his career. Hopefully he will add to all that he has achieved here with the Crusaders in the time before he departs,” Deans said.
“I know the players, coaching staff and fans at the Leicester Tigers will quickly come to value Aaron as a player as much as we do at the Crusaders and with Canterbury.”
The Crusaders’ coaches’ comments were echoed by Canterbury c