All Blacks and Crusaders centre Ryan Crotty has announced he will leave New Zealand rugby at the end of the year to join Japanese club Kubota Spears.
“The All Blacks, Crusaders and Canterbury rugby have been such an important part of my life and I’m grateful for every opportunity I’ve had to represent my country, my province and my family over the years,” Crotty said.
“I’m a proud Cantabrian and Christchurch will always be home, but I’m really looking forward to taking on a new challenge in the Top League as part of the Kubota Spears club.
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“I know I’ll look back at the end of my career in New Zealand with really fond memories of the experiences I’ve had and what I’ve achieved alongside my good mates, but for now my focus is enjoying the season ahead and helping to lead this Crusaders side one last time in 2019.”
Crotty progressed through the Canterbury and Crusaders development programmes, making his debut for Canterbury back in 2008 and accumulating 67 provincial caps to date.