Safari leads to ride with Crusaders

Former Galloping Green Ross Kennedy stunned by Crusaders call for 2012!

The Crusaders named a bolter in their Super 15 squad for 2012 in ex-Randwick lock Ross Kennedy. And a tip from All Black coach in waiting Steve Hansen put them on his trail.  Kennedy has been playing for Eastern Province Kings in South Africa this year after playing 1st grade for Randwick in 2010, and was supposed to stay in South Africa on what he describes as his "three years of safari". That's now turned into just a 10 month trip. A former Junior All Black, Kennedy was touted as a future AB in 2005, after playing for the Hurricanes for three seasons from the age of 19.  Christchurch born, he'd moved to the capital in his high school years, playing for Wellington College, then University Old Boys, then the Canes. But, after a series of ill-timed injuries put paid to his Wellington playing days, he was on loan to Counties-Manukau for part of the 2006 Air NZ Cup.

In 2007 he was on Otago's books, but injuries prevented him getting much game time before a good season in 2008.
He wore the Highlanders jersey in 2009, before heading to Hawkes Bay for the NPC and one of his best seasons, playing with the Magpies and playing a key role alongside Zac Guildford and Israel Dagg in helping the side through to the semifinals.

He stayed in the Bay for 2010, but without a Super 15 contract on offer for 2010 opted to head overseas to the famous Australian Rugby Club, Randwick to develop his game in the early season. Ross fine-tuned his game at the Galloping Greens for the first 5 months of the 2010 season under coach Mark Giacheri, the former Italian and NSW second rower before returning to NZ provincial competition late in 2010. But he was shocked to get a text from Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder last week - after Hansen apparently followed up by putting in a word for the 1.97m lock. The offer was of a one year contract with the best Super 15 team in the country.

"I just can't believe it," Kennedy, now 29, says. "But I'm not kidding myself about it, either. It's a massive challenge and I will have to work pretty hard to get one minute on the field, but it's a brilliant opportunity."  And he's taking heart from another "old" lock who's been one of the stars for the Crusaders - and the All Blacks. Brad Thorn signed on with the Crusaders in 2008 at the age of 33, and has been a solid part of the furniture since. "Well, it would be a massive challenge to be anything like him, but at least there's a precedent there," Kennedy says and laughs.  He will join the locking squad of Sam Whitelock, Tom Donnelly and Luke Romano, with at least Whitelock likely to be with the All Blacks for part of the season.

Kennedy is spending time in France with his younger brother, Ian, who plays for Saint Etienne, before arriving in New Zealand in time for the Crusaders' pre-season training on November 21 - hopefully getting to try on the jersey he never dreamed he would get the chance to wear.

Read more>....

2010 Randwick vs. West Harbour