Bristol Bears academy prop Andrew Turner has been drafted into the matchday squad of the reigning Super Rugby champions the Crusaders for a second time after making his debut earlier this month.
Loosehead prop Turner is still just 21 years old and is out in New Zealand along with clubmates Macenzzie Duncan and Paddy Pearce this summer to gain valuable experience playing Southern Hemisphere rugby for Sumner Rugby Club.
But Sumner rugby club are a semi-pro side, with The Wave first team playing in Division One of the local Canterbury league alongside an extensive amateur arm to the club, however, Turner has found himself in the right place at the right time.
While in New Zealand Turner has spent time inside the Crusaders camp working with a host of All Blacks and head coach Scott Robertson who will swap club duties with the Christchurch outfit to become the national side’s head coach post-2023 Rugby World Cup.
A late withdrawal in the injury-hit Crusaders squad ahead of facing the Western Force earlier this month saw Turner drafted in and come on as a 58th-minute replacement in the 48-13 victory.
Two weeks later and the former SGS Filton College and Weston-super-Mare RFC forward, who has been a part of the Bears set-up since U13s, has been called up to the bench again to face Moana Pasifika on Friday at the Go Media Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland in Round 13 of Super Rugby Pacific ’23.
Talking about his injury crisis in the frontrow, with Joe Moody and Finlay Brewis sidelined, Crusaders boss Robinson said this week, “We are [digging deep] in the front row side of it, but we've got some great young props, they're strong, they've got ready for this moment. Every time we've given someone an opportunity, they've stepped up.”
Speaking about how Turner’s opportunity has come about, Bristol director of rugby, Pat Lam, explained: "We've had a relationship with Sumner through Scott Robertson and have sent some young Academy players out there to gain some experience of playing down under.
"When Drew first got down there, Scott took him into the Crusaders environment for some training and it's fantastic that he has had an opportunity to play.
“Speaking to Razor after the game [against Western Force], they were very pleased to welcome him into the Crusaders family and he's done everyone proud."
When Turner returns to Bristol he will compete with the likes of England star Ellis Genge, Yann Thomas and Jake Woolmore for the two loosehead berths in each matchday squad. With Genge set to be away with England until deep into the Autumn at the Rugby World Cup, Turner is likely to be handed opportunities to shine in a Bears jersey back on home soil.
The Crusaders game is being shown on Sky Sports Action at 8am on Friday.
