Willi Heinz will take the field for the Crusaders in the 2024 season, continuing his stellar return to Super Rugby.
The halfback debuted for the Crusaders in 2010 and made a big impact before heading to England to play for Gloucester, and subsequently the Worcester Warriors. He earned 13 caps for England, including five appearances at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
He’ll line up alongside Mitch Drummond and Noah Hotham as halfbacks for the championship side.
“I’ve loved being back in camp in 2023, training at Rugby Park and taking the field with the boys,” Heinz said.
“I’m excited to work with Noah and Drummy again – the future of the club is looking very good.”
Fans can catch Heinz in action throughout the 2023 Bunnings Warehouse NPC season, playing for Canterbury. Round One is in Whangarei on 5 August, and their first home game will be at Orangetheory Stadium on Saturday 19 August at 4.35pm.
BEST RUGBY TRANSFORMATIONS:
Below, we look at five other rugby stars who transformed their bodies to get themselves into top condition.
#1. David Pocock
The Wallabies legend started out as an skinny 78kg teen who worked day in and day out to transform himself, with his size and strength came at a cost, Pocock told Australian Story.
#2. Luther Burrell
The centre missed out on Eddie Jones’ first squad for the Six Nations Grand Slam triumph in 2016 with the Aussie labelling him “grossly overweight”.
He revealed his incredible body transformation online yesterday saying in the caption…
‘Putting a picture up like this for me was very challenging and potentially very embarrassing. It can sometimes put you in a vulnerable position…. So I seriously can’t thank everyone enough for contacting me, showing interest in my continued journey and also being kind I’m still smashing through messages, so please bare with me if I haven’t yet got back to you. •’
#3. Matt Dunning
When he was a prop for the Wallabies Matt Dunning weighed 130kg and was constantly mocked for his tubby frame.
But since retiring from rugby union the 35-year-old has lost a staggering 40kg, dropping from 25 per cent body fat to just 11 per cent in six months.
He looks amazing.
#4. Sam Underhill
#5 Richie McCaw
Rugby fans cannot believe Richie McCaw's body transformation as the All Blacks legend showed off he has lost muscle mass since hanging up his boots.
Since retiring, the double World Cup-winner has become obsessed with ultra-hardcore marathons and has shifted a lot of that weight to give him a speed advantage.
The 41-year-old, who weighed 107 kg, is now closer to 87kg since dropping the weight.
For context, that's a weight drop of over three stone.
