Ryan Crotty & Scott Barrett ink new NZ Rugby deals

New Zealand Rugby has secured the signatures of two more key players, with experienced midfielder Ryan Crotty and lock Scott Barrett re-committing to the national body, the Crusaders and their respective provinces. 
 
The announcement is further great news for NZR, coming on the back of confirmation that All Blacks and Blues prop Ofa Tuungafasi has committed for three more years.

Scott Barrett, who has played 16 Tests, has signed through to 2020 with 35-Test veteran Crotty recommitting for one more year.

Crotty progressed through the Canterbury and Crusaders development programmes, making his debut for Canterbury back in 2008. He went on to make his Crusaders' debut against the Hurricanes in Christchurch the following year.

Since then the midfielder has amassed an impressive 131 Investec Super Rugby caps, notching up his 100-game milestone in front of a home crowd back in 2016. In 2013 he made his All Blacks debut against the Wallabies in Sydney and has earned 35 caps in the black jersey to date. 
 
Barrett also progressed through the Canterbury and Crusaders development programmes, making his provincial debut for Canterbury in 2014 and playing 19 games for the red and blacks, before signing with Taranaki in 2017. He first played for the Crusaders against England in June 2014, and made his official Super Rugby debut against the Blues in Christchurch a few weeks later.

He earned his first cap for the All Blacks off the bench in 2016, scoring a superb try on debut in the All Blacks' historic match against Ireland in Chicago.