Rugby: Blackadder's crusade comes to an end

Todd Blackadder has coached the Crusaders for seven years without winning a Super Rugby title. Photo / Getty Images.

The Crusaders are looking for a new coach after their next campaign.

They've lost extensive playing riches in Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter for 2016 and long-time coach Todd Blackadder has announced he will finish after the next Super Rugby campaign.

"This will be my eighth season coaching the Crusaders, and every minute in the role has been a privilege," he said today.

"But moving on at the end of the 2016 season is the right thing for me and the right thing for the team. I have been so fortunate to be able to do my dream job for all of these years but eight years is a relatively long time in coaching and I feel that the time is right for someone else to take the reins and lead the team in their own direction in the future.

"One of the important things to come out of our 2015 season review is that distractions were a problem for us last season, so that is why I was keen to make my intentions clear before the season begins to avoid my future becoming a distraction for the team during the 2016 season," Blackadder said.

Blackadder took over from Robbie Deans in 2009 and has yet to coach the side to a Super Rugby title, although he has led them to four semifinals and two final appearances.

"Toddy is one of the original Crusaders and he has shown a consummate commitment to this team since day one," Crusaders CEO Hamish Riach said.

"His leadership qualities were immediately apparent as a player so it was no surprise that he went on to captain the Crusaders team for five seasons, as well as becoming the Canterbury and All Blacks captain. It also seemed almost inevitable that he would return as a coach one day, as he did in 2009.

"He has a kind of cult hero status around these parts, and that's because of the incredible passion and loyalty that he has always displayed for this team. He has given everything to the Crusaders and we have been incredibly lucky to have him, as both a player and a coach."

Blackadder has no firm plans beyond the 2016 season and was entirely focused on making sure the Crusaders were ready to tackle the new expanded series.