The sword-wielding knights used in their pre-match entertainment are set to be axed by the Crusaders ahead of their first home game since the terrorist attacks in Christchurch.
The Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge has told Stuff the knights on horses are "unlikely" to be used for the April 6 clash with the ACT Brumbies at Christchurch stadium.
"For this particular game, given it's the first game since the terrorist attack, the horses are unlikely to be there," Mansbridge said.
"It's not unequivocal yet, but they're unlikely to be there and the game will reflect the occasion."
Crusaders horsemen at the Super rugby quarter final in July 2018. Photo: Photosport
There's been plenty of debate about the Crusaders name in the wake of the Christchurch terror attack and the franchise has said it will consider the future of its name.
"We are getting a lot of feedback. You don't have to be too well connected to anything to see how much feedback we're getting," he told Stuff.
"This game will be different than our last game … what we're not sure about is going forward.
"We want to do the right thing ... to make sure that we're doing our best to do the right thing, it's probably taking more energy than we've ever expended on a game."
The Crusades were a series of religious and political wars between Christians and Muslims fought in the 11th and 13th centuries.
