The third Gisborne Boys’ High School old boy to be associated with the Crusaders, following on from wingers James Kerr and Rico Gear, Craig Clarke made his Super rugby debut with the Crusaders a year after first appearing for Canterbury in a Ranfurly Shield match against Marlborough. Clarke joined the Canterbury ranks after gaining national honours in both the Under-19 and Under-21 grades, winning the World Cup during both campaigns in 2002 (Italy) and 2004 (Scotland). After playing five matches in his freshman season for Canterbury, the second rower who responds to the nickname of ‘Weka’, after Wally the Weka, the mascot of his home town Poverty Bay provincial union, gained three Crusaders caps in his debut year. He then had his work load stepped up in the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup season, appearing in all 12 first class matches played by Canterbury in the 2006 season.