The Crusaders will consider changing their name in the future following the terror attacks in Christchurch on Friday.
Fifty people were killed and over 30 are still in hospital in the wake of Friday’s attack on two mosques.
In the wake of the tragedy, there were suggestions on social media that the franchise should change its name and logo, both of which hark back to the Crusades.
The series of conflicts, which took place a thousand years ago, included wars between Christians and Muslims which resulted in over one million deaths.
In a statement released on Sunday, the defending Vodacom Super Rugby champions said they understood concerns have been raised about their name.
‘For us, the Crusaders name is a reflection of the crusading spirit of this community,’ the statement read.
‘What we stand for is the opposite of what happened in Christchurch on Friday; our crusade is one for peace, unity, inclusiveness and community spirit.
‘In our view, this is a conversation that we should have and we are taking on board all of the feedback that we are receiving. However, we also believe that the time is not right now.
‘At an appropriate time, we will thoroughly consider the issues that have been raised and our response to that,’ the statement went on to say. ‘That will include conversations with a range of people, including our Muslim community.’
The Super Rugby match between the Highlanders and Crusaders in Dunedin was cancelled on Saturday. Both teams were awarded two log points.
