Tightheads & Loose Balls

● They are open for conversation but now is not the right time for change. That is the view of the Crusaders amid growing calls for them to change their name in the aftermath of the massacre that claimed 50 lives at a mosque in Christchurch. Some argue the name is offensive as it glorifies the religious wars between Christians and Muslims about 1, 000 years ago. And to think the other name, Cantabrians, weighed up before the launch of Super Rugby in 1996, was the Canterbury Plainsmen.

● If your heart bleeds for the Sunwolves, who will be yanked from Super Rugby, you can acquire soon-tobe collectors’ items from their online store. A kettle will set you back 10,800 yen (R1,400), boxer shorts with a menacing looking wolf on the rear end go for 4,320 yen (R561), while you call time in style with a Sunwolves watch for 108,000 yen (R14,000).

● “More isn’t necessarily more,” Rugby Australia’s CEO Raylene Castle said sagely about the future structure of Super Rugby. “We have seen that 18 teams was not the greatest decision, with the benefit of hindsight,” said Castle. “Fourteen teams is a number broadcasters feel more comfortable with and our fans want to see competitive games and uncertainty of outcomes.” Funny how long it took broadcasters to smell the coffee.

● New Southern Kings director of rugby Robbi Kempson believes the Kings are better off playing in Europe.

“It should be the ambition of the Kings and the Cheetahs to become strong enough to qualify to play in the European Champions Cup,” he said. Wouldn’t it be weird if a team from the south was crowned kings of Europe.