While the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season has long been complete, the awards keep rolling in for the title-holder Crusaders.
After their sixth consecutive championship win, the Crusaders took out the title as the best sporting team in Australasia on Monday where they were presented their award by Australian-based Gain Line Analytics.
The win becomes their second in four years, with their stranglehold over their Super Rugby rivals proving enough to fend off some of Australia’s biggest sporting teams.
Scott Robertson’s side beat out AFL Premiership winners Geelong, A-League premiers Melbourne City and back-to-back NRL champions Penrith Panthers for the prize, earning themselves an AU$10,000 (NZ$10,594) grant.
The Crusaders donated their winnings to the Child Cancer Foundation NZ.
While the Cantabrians took out the top gong, the only other Kiwi side to make the top 25 was the Blues, who placed 23rd.
Since their 2018 win, the Crusaders have added another four titles to their name with one Super Rugby, two Super Rugby Aoteroa and a Super Rugby Pacific championship victory, the latest in their achievements.
The annual award is chosen based on rolling five-year periods where win percentage, competition size and stability are all taken into consideration.
21 competitions are in the running for the award throughout Australasia, with 10 women’s leagues and unisex esports all in the mix.
Top 25 Australasian sporting teams in 2022:
- Crusaders
- Melbourne City
- Geelong Cats
- Penrith Panthers
- Melbourne Demons (AFLW)
- Sydney FC (women)
- Sydney Sixers
- Melbourne Storm
- Adelaide Crows (AFLW)
- Melbourne United
- Melbourne Boomers
- Brisbane Lions (AFLW)
- UNSW Wests
- Chiefs Esports Club
- Waratahs (women)
- New South Wales Breakers
- Brisbane Heat
- Sydney FC
- Brisbane Lions
- CBR Brave
- West Coast Fever
- South Sydney Rabbitohs
- Blues
- Perth Wildcats
- Brisbane Broncos