Aaron Cruden rejected Super Rugby return despite being ‘pretty tempted’
Former All Blacks fly-half Aaron Cruden in action for Suntory Sungoliath.
Former All Blacks fly-half Aaron Cruden has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to play for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific this year.
The Christchurch-based outfit approached Cruden, who made 50 Test appearances for New Zealand between 2010 and 2017, to come into their squad as cover for Fergus Burke, who is yet to play for them in 2024.
English-qualified Burke, who is set to join Premiership champions Saracens, was initially sidelined with an Achilles injury, which he sustained while on duty for Canterbury in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship (NPC), before he then picked up a calf issue.
Inexperienced duo calling the shots
That has left the Crusaders to depend on the inexperienced duo of Rivez Reihana and Riley Hohepa.
The defending Super Rugby Pacific champions have struggled this year and are in last position on the table after winning just one out of eight matches.
Cruden, who has been without a club since he left Japanese outfit Suntory Sungoliath in May 2023, admitted that he was “pretty tempted” by the offer and “pretty close” to accepting it before turning it down for family reasons.
The 35-year-old was interviewed on the Aoteraroa Rugby Pod earlier this week and, when asked if there was interest from the Crusaders in recruiting him, he replied: “Yes, there was.
“(Assistant coach) Jimmy Marshall gave me a call and I was pretty tempted and pretty close, but a lot of the decisions I’ve made, especially this year, around rugby and things, it’s been more based around the family and just making sure that that really fit for everyone.
Scott Barrett one of two key All Black returnees for struggling Crusaders against Rebels
“It was tough from a personal point of view. I’m a competitor and pretty keen to still play, but I think prioritizing my family right now was certainly the way.
“I’m not sure if I could have helped down there right now anyway, maybe a little bit of experience, but those young guys getting that exposure, I think they’ll certainly be better for it in that Crusaders 10 jersey.”
Cruden’s last competitive match was for Waikato during last year’s NPC when he accepted a similar offer to the one which he rejected from the Crusaders.
He initially played for the Hurricanes but made his name at the Chiefs, where he won back-to-back Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013.
Cruden then joined Top 14 side Montpellier in 2017 but returned to the Chiefs in 2020 before leaving for Japan where he had stints with Kobelco Steelers and Suntory Sungoliath.
Ulster offer also rejected
The 2011 Rugby World Cup winner also revealed that he turned down an offer from United Rugby Championship side Ulster because “it just doesn’t quite fit timing wise”.
He added: “I did obviously say to them I really appreciated the offer and the interest in a 35-year-old veteran that’s still got a bit of game.”