Christchirch native Colin Slade is leaving the Crusaders © Getty Images

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Teams: Crusaders

The Crusaders are looking to preserve their position of strength within New Zealand, in the face of a growing exodus of talent to Europe, by establishing the nation's first rugby academy aligned with a Super Rugby team. The Crusaders Academy replaces the former Canterbury Rugby and Tasman rugby academies and pools those resources with an aim to increase the talent base available to the Crusaders team for the future.

The Crusaders Academy will have bases in Christchurch and in Nelson, and academy manager Aaron Webb says the facilities will allow more opportunities for players from within the franchise's catchment area to progress without having to move away from home.

"With both a Christchurch and Nelson base, we can capture more of the local talent within the Crusaders region," he said. "We want to provide a pathway to both provincial representative rugby and to the Crusaders, and this new academy structure will make that pathway clearer and also allow more players to follow that path while remaining close to home.

Chris Goodman, formerly a rugby development officer with Tasman Rugby, has been appointed Tasman coordinator for the Academy.

"We are excited to have Chris on board as part of the new Crusaders Academy," Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach said. "He has made significant advances in the development of players and coaches in the region through that role. He has a strong background in both high performance and community sport, having worked with the Tasman Makos, as a Community Sport Advisor at Sport Tasman, and as a trainer for the Marlborough Boys High School first XV, Marlborough Red Devils and in ice hockey in Canada. He brings a great mix of skills to the organisation and will add value to the Academy programme delivered in both Nelson and Christchurch."

There are currently 44 players training in the Crusaders Academy, 16 based in Tasman and 28 based in Canterbury. There are also 10 players in the apprentice academy in Christchurch, with a similar apprentice group is planned for Tasman in the future.