ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Sport
HERITAGE RESTORED
Crusaders fans are eagerly awaiting tomorrow’s match against the Blues in Christchurch after reports emerged that the iconic horses are set to return to matchday duties. This was despite previously being “forced into early retirement” by the management at One New Zealand Stadium.
Last month, the club announced the famous horses would no longer feature at games due to safety concerns surrounding the tight layout of the new stadium and they were not present two weeks ago at the opening round.
However, scenes of horses galloping around the stadium yesterday have reignited hope ahead of the Crusaders clash against the Blues.
But while fans welcomed the apparent return of the horses, many say another matchday fixture must now also become permanent: Christchurch rapper Scribe.
The local hip hop icon stunned a sold-out Super Round crowd earlier this season after appearing at halftime, with thousands of Cantabs temporarily forgetting they were attending rugby, and instead entering what a witness called “a deeply emotional 2003 fever dream.”
“I’m happy the horses are back,” said Spreydon man Jase Wilson, 41, wrapped in a Crusaders flag while aggressively singing Not Many outside the stadium. “But if Scribe doesn’t walk out before kickoff yelling ‘Christchurch City! Congratulations, you made it’, then honestly what are we even doing here?”
Fans say the combination of medieval crusader horses and kiwi hip hop from the early-2000s has somehow become the perfect representation of modern Christchurch culture.
“It just works,” said Wilson. “You’ve got the horses, the Crusaders theme song, then suddenly Scribe appears as well and you can’t think you’re anything but definitely a one-eyed Cantab.
“Even makes me want to try and find out what Savage is up to”.
The Crusaders organisation has yet to confirm whether Scribe will become a regular fixture alongside the horses, although insiders say club officials are exploring a compromise where the rapper performs from horseback during major finals matches.
More to come.
