The Six Players Who Have Played 150 Games For The Crusaders

All Black second-rower Sam Whitelock is set to become the seventh player to bring up his 150th game for the Crusaders this weekend against the Chiefs and in doing so he joins an elite club of players to have reached the milestone.

In Super Rugby history just 19 players have made over 150 appearances with just 10 of those 19 players having reached the milestone with one club. 

Commenting on reaching the milestone Whitelock told TVNZ: “It’s been awesome,” 

“For myself, a real special [memory] was being here with my three brothers [Adam, George and Luke].

Whitelock is the first of the Whitelock brothers and likely the only one that will reach 150 games for the red and black. We take a look at the other six players to have reached the mark.

1. Wyatt Crockett - 202 caps

In 2018, the curtain came down on Wyatt Crockett's incredible innings in Christchurch. Crockett was an unorthodox loosehead whose career came to a similarly unorthodox with his final game for the Crusaders as he was denied a fairytale farewell as he was wasn't required in the game-day 23 for the decider or the semifinal victory over the Hurricanes.

The man who debuted for the Crusaders in 2006 won four Super Rugby titles with the side and holds the record for the most Super Rugby caps with 202.

2. Corey Flynn - 150 caps

The second of three front rowers from the Christchurch-based side to have played 150 games for the side.

Corey Flynn debuted for the Crusaders back in 2002 with his 150th and final game coming the 2014 Super Rugby Final loss to the Waratahs.

Flynn did, however, have success in previous finals winning four Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders with the first of which coming in his debut season.

A World Cup winner in 2011 with the All Blacks, Flynn won 15 test caps for his country before heading to Toulouse with a stint at Glasgow Warriors following. 

3. Andy Ellis - 154 caps

Andy Ellis formed a fantastic partnership with Dan Carter during his career at the Crusaders racking up 154 appearances for the side during his 10-year stint at the club between 2006 and 2016.

Ellis was also part of the 2011 Rugby World Cup-winning squad and left the Crusaders, permanently, to join Kobe Kobelco Steelers who he represented between 2014 and 2016 before retiring earlier this year.

4. Ryan Crotty - 152 caps

The All Black midfielder who headed to Japan after his final season at the Crusaders couldn't have scripted his 150th match for the any better had he tried. The veteran and long term cog in the franchise's midfield iced the Crusaders' 66-0 romp against the Rebels by scoring a try after the final hooter and calmly banging over the conversion.

Crotty would play the quarter-final and semi-final of the 2019 Super Rugby season but missed the final due to injury. During his time with the Crusaders, Crotty won three Super Rugby titles with the side. 

5. Kieran Read - 156 caps

A former captain of the side, Kieran Read racked up 156 appearances for the Crusaders between 2007 and 2019. He too made winning a habit with the Crusaders winning four Super Rugby titles with the side.

Read's final appearance for the side came in the 2019 final against the Jaguares and has since joined former All Black coach Steve Hansen at Toyota Verblitz in Japan.

6. Owen Franks - 150 caps

The man who famously ended his test career having not scored a single test try ended his Crusaders' career on high winning his third Super Rugby title.

After the 2019 season he joined his brother Ben at Northampton Saints.