April 25, 2025 • 6 mins
A chance to bring up a century of games for the Crusaders was a key factor behind prop George Bower's decision to re-sign with New Zealand Rugby until the end of the 2027 season.
Bower's played 81 times since making his debut in 2019.
The 22-test All Black wants to etch his name in the record books of the Crusaders' hundred club.
He spoke with Lesley Murdoch about his decision to stick around.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Pretty stoked that they came forward with another two years
and being thirty two. You know, that's a that's awesome
news for me. You have been part of this environment
for a few years now, about eight years and then
growing to be a special place in my heart, and yeah,
kind of call this place home now, even the Wellington boy.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I now find my.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Place here in christ Church home with all the friends
that I've made and also my relationships with a lot
of the players and management. So that's a huge reason
why I decided to stay here, and a huge.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Drug factor for that. Yeah, score try.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Oh so that's that's another reason why I wanted to extend,
is to score a try before it. Sorry sorry, Yeah,
definitely definitely another reason why I wanted to stay as well.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
I've mentioned to a few people.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
You know that's walking to the gym and you see
all the centurions hanging up on the wall and you
just be it just kind of drives you to to
be one of those those names on the board as well.
Along this, the likes of with you know, hanging up
on the wall, with the likes of Richard mccaur and
Chris Jack, Greg Somerville, you know, some real legends justin Marshall,
you know, be so awesome seeing your name up there,
(01:11):
George Bell.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Imagine that.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
So that's definitely another reason why I kind of want
to stay here. And they make Foy here with Crusaders
feeling twenty two, mate, feeling twenty two, twenty three. You know,
that's what all the Fijians say. If you're you're act
young and you feel young, you become young. So now
they don't really say that, but but yeah, that's you know,
I just try and just try and step up to
(01:34):
date with all the young boys and you know what
they're going through and stuff like that. And but now
also three two means that you have a bit of
a you're that quarter around the team.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
I think I'm sick and oldest with with Cody, so
not only off on the field, but off the feel
I can assist and help boys where I can just
make them be better humans, share my experiences with them,
and it may resonate with him if they're going through
challenges as well. That's the beauty of being an older
person in this team as well, so to you know,
put my hand up for a World Cup spot. But man,
you can see now the competition and the lucid spot.
(02:06):
But there's all some lucids coming through the likes of
To Mighty and or you know that really kind of
sim into their spots to Mighty and the grout and
tum of Fussy, and then you've got some younger boys
like for this tour, and so it's just me doing
doing the best that I can here in this read
Jersey and just let everything else take care of itself.
So sometimes you're bucking the trend because we are seeing
(02:28):
a lot in professional rugby. You get to maybe this
point in your career and you start thinking about the
final paycheck in Japan in Europe and was there ever
a consideration and how much does it say about how
much you love it here that if it was you still.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, I guess yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
There were there were times where I was thinking, oh,
should I just you know, pack up and go over
season you know, France or Japan. But then again coming
back to you know, coming here, does it feel like
I'm going to play foot? You know, I'm coming in
with my friends and working hard with my friends and
achieving goals together with my best friends. And also not
(03:03):
just rugby players, but the management as well they have
made real good friends with them, and that's a huge
reason why I kind of didn't really want to look
anywhere else at the same time I did.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
But the saving race safe? Is he your best friend?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Ah, we're kind of like I guess you were more
brothers in Yeah, yeah, I could.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, we've lived together for a bit.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
We actually started the same year here and our same
scenario kind of injury players. Both stayed on and played
in that final in twenty nineteen now on the same
amount of games, and we could be looking at playing
one hundred games together if we stay on.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
So we've kind of climbed the ladder.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Together and Crusaders and we've shared the same experience. We
also had our acls done that around the same time,
so that's crazy. Hey, you know, everything happens for a reason,
and we're huge believers in that. So yeah, we've definitely
grown a tight friendship there, and yeah, one that'll go
a lot longer than right till the End's say, I
(03:57):
wish I had his physique, but yeah, but twins in
our hearts, Yeah, with our humor in probably other things.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
So did you have to fend off quite a few
other offers? I wasn't.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
There was a few here and there, but like deep
down in my heart, I kind of just really wanted
to stay here, eh, And it's just going back to
this feels like home for me. So that's like offers
came here and there, but it wasn't enough to pull
me away. And as soon as Prisade has came back
(04:34):
and Yeah asked if I could stay, I was like, yeah,
send it away son. Yeah, and you talked about the
depth that's been grown in the loose head position.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
What do you have to do to get yourself up
and stay in the top of the pack.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Yeah, I guess it's just my valuability. They will say
valuability is the best your best ability. So me being
thirty two, just looking after my body right now, just
really dialing into my recovery and making sure that I'm
healthy and not only physically but mentally as well. That's
a huge part of it, understanding that if I get
that right, it puts me in the best position to
(05:10):
put my hand up.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Just going down to the match against the Highlanders, what
do you think will be the biggest challenge for the Crusaders. Yeah,
I know that under the roof it's always the speed
of the game always picks up. Obviously it's under the roof,
so it's very dry pitch, and you see, the speed
of the game is another level up, so I guess
(05:31):
our ability to sit sit quick. We know we want
to play a fast game, but also a smart game
as well, and we definitely know that they're going to
bring it through their forwards and the.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Niggle around the park.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
They like to get in our heads as we've got
a strong relationship with the Landers. You know, a lot
of them we played together provincial and club as well.
So yeah, it's going to be awesome challenge hitting down
to play our Southern brothers. Yeah, every game I played
under the roof, it's always another level up in terms of, yeah,
the pace of the game. So bro excited for Takaha
to be Yeah to opening the opening and also hopefully
(06:08):
get to play in it. I'm here for another two
years and yeah, so yeah, looking forward to that man,
and I think Chris Pushich deserves it as well through
what they've been through. And obviously Jay Stadium was a
huge fortress for us back in the day, so it's
time to make Takaha like a same thing, a fortress
and really hone into it, get crushes behind it, and yeah,
(06:32):
it's going to be exciting mate.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Yeah. For more from News Talks d B, listen live
on air or online, and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio
Pretty stoked that they came forward with another two years
and being thirty two. You know, that's a that's awesome
news for me. You have been part of this environment
for a few years now, about eight years and then
growing to be a special place in my heart, and yeah,
kind of call this place home now, even the Wellington boy.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I now find my.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Place here in christ Church home with all the friends
that I've made and also my relationships with a lot
of the players and management. So that's a huge reason
why I decided to stay here, and a huge.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Drug factor for that. Yeah, score try.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Oh so that's that's another reason why I wanted to extend,
is to score a try before it. Sorry sorry, Yeah,
definitely definitely another reason why I wanted to stay as well.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
I've mentioned to a few people.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
You know that's walking to the gym and you see
all the centurions hanging up on the wall and you
just be it just kind of drives you to to
be one of those those names on the board as well.
Along this, the likes of with you know, hanging up
on the wall, with the likes of Richard mccaur and
Chris Jack, Greg Somerville, you know, some real legends justin Marshall,
you know, be so awesome seeing your name up there,
(01:11):
George Bell.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Imagine that.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
So that's definitely another reason why I kind of want
to stay here. And they make Foy here with Crusaders
feeling twenty two, mate, feeling twenty two, twenty three. You know,
that's what all the Fijians say. If you're you're act
young and you feel young, you become young. So now
they don't really say that, but but yeah, that's you know,
I just try and just try and step up to
(01:34):
date with all the young boys and you know what
they're going through and stuff like that. And but now
also three two means that you have a bit of
a you're that quarter around the team.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
I think I'm sick and oldest with with Cody, so
not only off on the field, but off the feel
I can assist and help boys where I can just
make them be better humans, share my experiences with them,
and it may resonate with him if they're going through
challenges as well. That's the beauty of being an older
person in this team as well, so to you know,
put my hand up for a World Cup spot. But man,
you can see now the competition and the lucid spot.
(02:06):
But there's all some lucids coming through the likes of
To Mighty and or you know that really kind of
sim into their spots to Mighty and the grout and
tum of Fussy, and then you've got some younger boys
like for this tour, and so it's just me doing
doing the best that I can here in this read
Jersey and just let everything else take care of itself.
So sometimes you're bucking the trend because we are seeing
(02:28):
a lot in professional rugby. You get to maybe this
point in your career and you start thinking about the
final paycheck in Japan in Europe and was there ever
a consideration and how much does it say about how
much you love it here that if it was you still.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, I guess yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
There were there were times where I was thinking, oh,
should I just you know, pack up and go over
season you know, France or Japan. But then again coming
back to you know, coming here, does it feel like
I'm going to play foot? You know, I'm coming in
with my friends and working hard with my friends and
achieving goals together with my best friends. And also not
(03:03):
just rugby players, but the management as well they have
made real good friends with them, and that's a huge
reason why I kind of didn't really want to look
anywhere else at the same time I did.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
But the saving race safe? Is he your best friend?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Ah, we're kind of like I guess you were more
brothers in Yeah, yeah, I could.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, we've lived together for a bit.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
We actually started the same year here and our same
scenario kind of injury players. Both stayed on and played
in that final in twenty nineteen now on the same
amount of games, and we could be looking at playing
one hundred games together if we stay on.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
So we've kind of climbed the ladder.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Together and Crusaders and we've shared the same experience. We
also had our acls done that around the same time,
so that's crazy. Hey, you know, everything happens for a reason,
and we're huge believers in that. So yeah, we've definitely
grown a tight friendship there, and yeah, one that'll go
a lot longer than right till the End's say, I
(03:57):
wish I had his physique, but yeah, but twins in
our hearts, Yeah, with our humor in probably other things.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
So did you have to fend off quite a few
other offers? I wasn't.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
There was a few here and there, but like deep
down in my heart, I kind of just really wanted
to stay here, eh, And it's just going back to
this feels like home for me. So that's like offers
came here and there, but it wasn't enough to pull
me away. And as soon as Prisade has came back
(04:34):
and Yeah asked if I could stay, I was like, yeah,
send it away son. Yeah, and you talked about the
depth that's been grown in the loose head position.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
What do you have to do to get yourself up
and stay in the top of the pack.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Yeah, I guess it's just my valuability. They will say
valuability is the best your best ability. So me being
thirty two, just looking after my body right now, just
really dialing into my recovery and making sure that I'm
healthy and not only physically but mentally as well. That's
a huge part of it, understanding that if I get
that right, it puts me in the best position to
(05:10):
put my hand up.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Just going down to the match against the Highlanders, what
do you think will be the biggest challenge for the Crusaders. Yeah,
I know that under the roof it's always the speed
of the game always picks up. Obviously it's under the roof,
so it's very dry pitch, and you see, the speed
of the game is another level up, so I guess
(05:31):
our ability to sit sit quick. We know we want
to play a fast game, but also a smart game
as well, and we definitely know that they're going to
bring it through their forwards and the.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Niggle around the park.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
They like to get in our heads as we've got
a strong relationship with the Landers. You know, a lot
of them we played together provincial and club as well.
So yeah, it's going to be awesome challenge hitting down
to play our Southern brothers. Yeah, every game I played
under the roof, it's always another level up in terms of, yeah,
the pace of the game. So bro excited for Takaha
to be Yeah to opening the opening and also hopefully
(06:08):
get to play in it. I'm here for another two
years and yeah, so yeah, looking forward to that man,
and I think Chris Pushich deserves it as well through
what they've been through. And obviously Jay Stadium was a
huge fortress for us back in the day, so it's
time to make Takaha like a same thing, a fortress
and really hone into it, get crushes behind it, and yeah,
(06:32):
it's going to be exciting mate.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Yeah. For more from News Talks d B, listen live
on air or online, and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio
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