Crusaders

The University of Canterbury is proud to be the exclusive tertiary education supporter of the nation’s most successful professional rugby team, the Crusaders. UC delivers creative and innovative research that adds benefit to the Crusaders, finding solutions that respond to their needs and aspirations within the industry.

The partnership provides endless opportunities to link academic departments at UC with the Crusaders, through our exclusive Internship programme and research work.

Notably, UC Education, Health and Human Development Professor Nick Draper has been awarded more than $100,000 by the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation to carry out a two-year study into head collisions in junior rugby and the potential of World Rugby-sanctioned headgear to reduce impacts. Canterbury Rugby and Crusaders have both expressed their support for the research and say they look forward to Professor Draper’s findings. Read the story here.