Prior to heading south in 1996, Steve Surridge had been forced to bide his time in the Auckland Second XV behind the likes of Zinzan Brooke, Isitolo Maka and Michael Jones. His decision to move proved a winner. Not only did Surridge share in Canterbury’s 1997 NPC title win, he was also a part of the successful Crusades of 1998 and 1999, featuring in both finals, while also winning All Black selection as a midweek player on the 1997 tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland. One of two Crusaders to have previously been a graduate of Cambridge University in England, with the other being Mark Robinson, Surridge ended his playing career with the Yamaha club in Japan before settling in Sydney where he spent three seasons coaching the Sydney University side in the city’s club championship. Sydney Uni won the first grade title with Surridge at the helm in 2004.