A desire for more playing time has seen hooker Ioane Moananu make the difficult decision to end a three-year stint with the Crusaders and sign with the Waratahs for the 2026 Super Rugby season. 

The 24-year-old produced several eye-catching performances across 12 appearances during the Crusaders' most recent title-winning run this year, scoring five tries.

His last Crusaders game was against the Waratahs on May 16, with George Bell preferred as a bench option behind All Blacks incumbent Codie Taylor thereafter.  

It was around this time Moananu was offered a new deal by the Crusaders.

“It wasn’t fully contracted where I could compete to play, but it was a contract where I had to wait for an injury,” Moananu explains to Newstalk ZB.

“I had a few tears, and had to talk to a few people that I really trusted in. I’ve seen how much my game has improved being out on the field, and I think if I was to stay back for another year, it would have stopped or paused my growth in my game.”

From there, Moananu looked at other options within New Zealand, but was met with a similar response.

“Without giving too much away, it was sort of a similar situation to Christchurch,” Moananu said.

“Teams offered me that fourth [hooker] role as injury cover. Having had a little bit of a bigger role out there [at the Crusaders] this year and seeing how much growth I got, it just made me hungry to play more.”

“That’s probably the main reason I was like, I don’t really want to stay in New Zealand then if there’s no opportunity for me to compete to play.”

That’s where the Waratahs came to the party with a full-time contract.

Moananu has committed for 2026, with the option of staying in 2027.

He made it clear to Newstalk ZB his move to Sydney isn’t because he’s eligible to play for the Wallabies.

“No, I’ve seen a lot of people ask me if I’ve got an Australian family member,” Moananu laughs.

“And I’m like no, I don’t have any.”

While there’s disappointment he’ll no longer be a Crusader, Moananu holds no resentment.  

He explains it’s the connections and memories that’ll stand out beyond the on-field success.

“Obviously the winning is good, but the friendships I’ve made with guys like Christian Lio-Willie, Chay Fihaki, George Bower, these boys are family to me.

"And the people of Christchurch, the loyal fans that always come out to open training and the games. It’s those moments that made my time a lot more special.” 

You can listen to the full interview with Ioane Moananu with Newstalk ZB’s Canterbury sports reader and Crusaders commentator Nick Bewley above.