Brad Mooar Embraces Crusaders Role Without Resentment Towards All Blacks Exit
Brad Mooar, now joining the Crusaders under head coach Rob Penney, says he holds no resentment toward Ian Foster or NZ Rugby following his exit from the All Blacks in mid-2022.
Mooar’s All Blacks Journey and Controversial Exit
Mooar served as an assistant to All Blacks head coach Ian Foster from 2020 until he and fellow assistant John Plumtree were dismissed after the team’s historic 2-1 series defeat to Ireland on home soil, a little over a year before the World Cup in France.
The duo was replaced by Joe Schmidt and Jason Ryan, who continued working with Ian Foster until the conclusion of the World Cup.
No Hard Feelings Despite All Blacks Dismissal
Mooar, now signed by the Crusaders for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, addressed the media in Christchurch on Thursday, expressing no hard feelings about his dismissal by NZ Rugby.
He also confirmed that he has stayed in touch with Foster since his departure.
Foster and Hansen Team Up in Japan
Foster is now coaching in Japan with the Toyota Verblitz club, alongside former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.
A Familiar Setting: Mooar’s Return to the Crusaders
This marks Mooar’s second stint with the Crusaders.
Mooar’s first tenure with the Super Rugby franchise was as an attack coach under head coach Todd Blackadder in 2016. When Blackadder left to coach English club Bath and was succeeded by Scott Robertson, Mooar remained part of the Crusaders’ coaching team.
He stayed with the Crusaders until the end of the 2019 season, after which he took up a coaching role with Welsh club Scarlets. Mooar later returned to New Zealand at Ian Foster’s invitation to oversee the All Blacks’ attack.
Short-Lived All Blacks Role After Scarlets Departure
NZ Rugby reached an agreement with Scarlets to allow Mooar to join the All Blacks after just one season up north.
But it was not a happy union.
Foster, who was under pressure from NZ Rugby to produce positive results after the All Blacks lost to Ireland and France in the northern hemisphere in late 2021, made the decision to dump Mooar and Plumtree after the series defeat to Ireland in New Zealand.
Post-All Blacks Coaching Stints
Following his departure from the All Blacks, Mooar worked with Scotland under Gregor Townsend during the Six Nations and at the World Cup in France.
Mooar later committed to Argentina, again in the role of assistant, prior to this year’s Rugby Championship started. But he left before the tournament began, citing personal reasons. Highlanders assistant Kendrick Lynn replaced Mooar at the Pumas.
Crusaders Rebuild Under Penney After Tough 2024 Season
Penney has recruited Mooar because Tamaiti Ellison has joined the All Blacks coaching staff on a fulltime basis.
Ellison was originally slated to only work on a part-time basis with the All Blacks and to return to the Crusaders in 2025. Following the resignation of Leon MacDonald earlier in the year, All Blacks coach Robertson invited Ellison to work fulltime on his staff.
After a disappointing first year in charge, when the Crusaders finished 12th and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015, Penney will be under pressure to get results next year.
After a review post-season Penney was retained. He is contracted through to the end of the 2025 season.
Questions Surrounding James O’Connor Signing
For me personally i hope this will help the squad as I do not believe Penny is a suitable coach for the Crusaders. Yes, he tries hard, but that is not enough in this competition. He has recruited James O’Connor who at age 34 is way past his best.
63-test veteran James O’Connor was a signing from left-field from coach Rob Penney, replacing Fergus Burke, who has joined Saracens in England after an injury-plagued 2024 campaign.
O’Connor, 34, will provide some much-needed experience in the all-important No. 10 jersey, complementing up-and-coming playmakers Rivez Reihana and Taha Kemara.
Promising Crusaders Roster Despite Challenges
Reihana and Kemara have a lot of long-term potential but they struggled to make an impact in 2024 as the seven-time defending champions finished a lowly ninth last season.
Despite their struggles last season, the 2025 Crusaders squad includes 10 players to have pulled on the All Blacks’ jersey this year, including Scott Barrett and Codie Taylor.
Forwards: Fletcher Newell, George Bower, Tamaiti Williams, Finlay Brewis, Seb Calder, Codie Taylor, Ioane Moananu, George Bell, Quinten Strange, Scott Barrett, Jamie Hannah, Dom Gardiner, Tahlor Cahill, Tom Christie, Cullen Grace, Cory Kellow, Ethan Blackadder, Christian Lio-Willie, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Antonio Shalfoon, Fletcher Anderson, Xavier Saifoloi
Backs: Mitch Drummond, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Taha Kemara, James O’Connor, Dallas McLeod, Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Levi Aumua, Chay Fihaki, Sevu Reece, Macca Springer, Will Jordan, Johnny McNicoll, Kyle Preston, Aki Tuivailala
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