Former Manu Samoa No 10 and freelance rugby scribe Campbell Burnes pays tribute to departing Crusaders legend David Havili.
The Crusaders are in the market for some midfielders.
All Blacks Braydon Ennor and Dallas McLeod are heading north, but the man they are going to miss most of all is David Havili, multiple Super Rugby champion and their most recent captain.
The 31-year-old is off to Japan at the end of this year. He has many qualities as a versatile player, having appeared in four different positions for his franchise. He can run, kick and pass, making him the ultimate triple threat.
The last of his 30 Tests for the All Blacks came in 2024, and it was a surprise that Scott Robertson, a man who has huge admiration for Havili, did not pick him in 2025, when he had just led the Crusaders back from the abyss and to yet another Super
Rugby championship.
But Havili dusted himself off, went back to his beloved Tasman, took the captaincy armband, switched to the back-field and was named the best fullback in the NPC by the respected NZ Rugby Almanack.
He had played 79 games for the Mako up until the start of this season, and will no doubt rack up a few more before he takes the yen. Havili embodies the idea of a Mako Man. It’s not just about doing the ‘Fins Up’ sign after each try you score. It’s about being authentically passionate for your province, your region and your club. I haven’t seen Havili play for his Nelson club, but no doubt he wears that jersey with pride too.
Not many players can hand on heart say they truly loved their team in four different levels of the game and nearly 300 first-class games, but Havili can justifiably say he does.
He was just unlucky that in recent times the All Blacks’ stocks in the No 12 jersey have burgeoned, otherwise he may have played many more Tests than his 30. In fact, by the time you read this, maybe he will be, or have been, in South Africa with the All Blacks as a midweek player or helping cover injuries. There is no better squad man, because he’s team first and can fill in any position outside halfback.
Havili played well enough in the first two-thirds of the Crusaders’ campaign this season, and then his form exploded in the last month, perhaps galvanised by playing under the roof at their new venue of One NZ Stadium. He took it upon his shoulders, kicking 50-22s, making breaks, delivering last passes for tries. He took the Crusaders to the semifinal before they ran into a heavy Chiefs roadblock. But Havili, wearing his head gear, was their talisman again, as he has been for much of the last decade.
The problem was that Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea had been braining it all season, as had Timoci Tavatavanawai of the Highlanders.
Havili’s other problem with regards to All Blacks selection is that Anton Lienert-Brown’s best position is probably centre, and we have rather less centre cover than second five cover.
The All Blacks will miss him, the Mako will miss him badly, and the Crusaders will miss him terribly.
Image: www.photosport.nz
No one can ever doubt David Havili’s commitment to the Crusaders.