Thirty-seven-Test All Blacks wing Sevu Reece will end his Crusaders and New Zealand career at the conclusion of the 2026 season and will join French side Perpignan. The 28-year-old joined the Crusaders in 2019 after making his first-class debut for Waikato, marking his Super Rugby debut with a two-try, man-of-the-match performance against the Chiefs. He went on to share in the Crusaders’ successes in Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2020, 2021, and 2022, and in Super Rugby Pacific in 2023 and 2025. During the 2025 season, Reece became Super Rugby’s all-time highest try scorer with 66 tries. French sports outlet L’Equipe reports that Reece has signed a three-year contract with Perpignan, currently the bottom-ranked team in the Top 14 competition. He made his All Blacks debut in 2019 and has scored 22 Test tries. Reece says the Crusaders have given him everything, and he will forever be grateful for all the opportunities he has had in red and black. He adds that he will miss so many things, but mainly the people, they are what make the Crusaders so special. He described the move as bittersweet, saying it has not been an easy decision, but that he and his family are excited for this next adventure in France. However, Reece says he still has a job to do with the Crusaders and cannot wait for the new season. He hopes that he can finish on a high and win one last title.
He says to do that under the roof at the new stadium would be unreal. Crusaders coach Rob Penney praised Reece’s impact on the region, saying the growth he has shown since joining in 2019 is a testament to his character. Penney said that while at this club, Reece started his family, achieved a huge number of milestones, and helped lead this team to six titles. He added that Reece is also on track to earn his 100th Crusaders cap this year—currently sitting on 88—a special way to cap off his final season with the team.
Source: All Blacks
