James Marshall Joins Crusaders Coaching Staff

Current Tasman Mako assistant coach James Marshall has joined the Crusaders coaching staff ahead of the 2023 season.

Marshall, a former Hurricanes, Tasman, and Taranaki player, was approached by head coach Scott Robertson some weeks ago about joining the coaching staff on the back of Andrew Goodman’s departure from the club.

Marshall’s coaching career began on the back of Carlos Spencer’s departure from the Hurricanes in 2020, and a hip surgery that effectively ended his on-field career.

After a stint with the Hurricanes, Marshall and his family moved to Nelson, where he joined the Tasman Mako as an assistant coach under Shane Christie and outgoing Crusaders assistant coach Andrew Goodman. However, the allure of coaching at the Crusaders under Scott Robertson made the decision to leave an easy one.

“His [Scott Robertson] record speaks for itself. I’ve always admired the success of the Crusaders from the outside and wondered what goes on behind the walls, so I’m really excited to get started and work with him, and the rest of the coaching staff, who are all world class coaches in their own right too.”