Rob Penney will step down as Crusaders head coach at the end of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, with Scott Hansen confirmed as his replacement from 2027.

Penney said it had been “the honour of a lifetime” to coach the Crusaders, but the time was right to step away after three seasons in charge.

Penney was appointed head coach in August 2023 following the departure of Scott Robertson and led the team into the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.

Penney’s connection to Canterbury and the Crusaders runs deep.

A proud Canterbury rugby man, Penney played more than 100 games for Canterbury from 1985 and spent much of his club rugby career with Burnside. He later returned to coach both Canterbury and the Crusaders.

He was also part of the Crusaders coaching group in 2005 as an assistant coach, helping the side claim its fifth Super Rugby title.

“I have always been a deeply passionate Canterbury man, with the famous red and black colours etched into my DNA,” Penney said.

“When the Crusaders were established, it was a very natural fit for me to have a close connection to them, as the values of the Crusaders were born out of Canterbury.

“I have been so very fortunate to be a small part of the Crusaders over the last three years and am very excited as we once again head into a finals campaign with a team very capable of going the whole way.

“There are too many people to thank. This special place will always be a part of me and my family.”

Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge said Penney’s contribution to the club extended well beyond results.

“Rob is incredibly humble and he always puts others ahead of himself,” Mansbridge said.

“He deserves every bit of credit that comes his way, but he makes it bloody hard for us to give it to him.

“He took on a team in transition, carried a huge amount of responsibility, and stayed focused on growth and development, even through injury disruption early on.

“The care he showed our players and staff was genuine and consistent.

“We talk a lot about care in sport, but Rob lives it. He talks about love, and he’s shown that every single day he’s been here. That matters, and it will always matter at this club.”

The Crusaders have confirmed Hansen will take over as head coach from the 2027 season.

Hansen’s history with the club stretches back to the inaugural Super 12 season in 1996, when he played halfback for the Crusaders and became Crusader number 25.

He later returned to Christchurch as an assistant coach from 2020 to 2023, overseeing attack and game planning during one of the club’s most successful modern periods.

During that time, Hansen played a key role in multiple championship campaigns, including the tactical planning behind the Crusaders’ 2022 Super Rugby Pacific final win over the Blues.

Hansen has also built an extensive international coaching résumé, with roles involving the Japanese national team, the Sunwolves, Leicester Tigers, Kobelco Steelers, New Zealand Under 20s and the All Blacks XV.

He was appointed an All Blacks assistant coach from 2024, working alongside Scott Robertson and other former Crusaders figures.

Mansbridge said Hansen was a natural fit for the next chapter of the club.

“Scott sets incredibly high standards and has a deep understanding of the game,” he said.

“He’s proven himself here, at Canterbury, and on the international stage. He brings clarity, discipline and a genuine love for helping people be better.

“We know he’ll thrive in this environment, and we’re proud to see another of our own step up. That continuity and connection to who we are is important.”

Hansen said returning to the Crusaders was deeply meaningful.

“My family and I are incredibly thankful for this opportunity, and we’re excited to be part of something special,” he said.

“I was born in Christchurch, raised in Lyttelton, and I’m Crusader number 25. This is my home and I’m very proud to be given the opportunity to serve the Crusaders and the people of this region again.

“The proud history and tradition of the Crusaders has always been built on our culture and the people both on and beside the field.

“We will balance being true to the past and honouring tradition while also having our eyes on the future.

“This club has experienced sustained success over a long period of time, and that doesn’t happen by accident.

“We can continue that legacy by turning up every day, learning together, and pushing to be the best we can be. I’m really looking forward to working with this group and moving forward together.”