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Macca Springer
Macca Springer
Macca Springer
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Macca Springer
Macca Springer playing for the Tasman Mako during the Bunnings NPC

Key Information

McKay 'Macca' Springer (born 29 March 2003) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for Tasman in the Bunnings NPC and the Crusaders in Super Rugby.[1] His position is fullback or wing.

Career

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In 2021 Springer was named as part of the Crusaders under 20 side for the Super Rugby Aotearoa Under 20 competition.[2] He was named in the Tasman Mako squad as a development player for the 2021 Bunnings NPC.[3] Springer made his debut for the Mako in Round 4 of the competition, coming off the bench against Waikato at Trafalgar Park. The side went on to make the final before losing 23–20 to Waikato. Springer made his debut for the Crusaders in Round 1 of the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season against the Chiefs.[4]

Springer set the Super Rugby record for most tries in one game (tied with Sean Wainui) with 5 tries vs the Force during round 5 of the 2025 Super Rugby season.[5]

References

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Macca Springer

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from Grokipedia
McKay "Macca" Springer (born 29 March 2003) is a union player who competes as an outside back for the Tasman Mako in the Bunnings National Provincial Championship (NPC) and the Crusaders in Pacific. Standing at 190 cm and weighing 100 kg, Springer began his professional career with a debut for Tasman against on 24 September 2021, following his recognition as the Most Outstanding Player in the UC Championship, where he earned the Philip McDonald Memorial Medal in 2020 as a former Waimea College student. Springer progressed through the Crusaders' development pathway, joining their academy in 2022 after featuring for the Crusaders Under-20s the previous year, and made his debut for the senior team against the Chiefs in 2023. In 2025, he contributed to the Crusaders' Pacific championship win. On the international stage, he represented at the under-20 level from 2022 to 2023, playing eight matches and scoring a try in each, contributing to an undefeated Under-20 Championship campaign in 2022—the team's fifth title—and featuring at the Under-20 Championship in 2023. A highlight of his career came in March 2025, when Springer tied the single-game try-scoring record by netting five tries in the Crusaders' 55-33 victory over the , a feat previously achieved only by in 2021.

Early life

Upbringing and family

McKay "Macca" Springer was born on 29 March 2003. He grew up in , a region known for its supportive rugby community but lacking prominent elite development pathways compared to larger centers. Upon entering professional rugby, Springer measured 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) in height and 100 kg (221 lb) in weight. Public details about his family background remain limited, with no widely reported information on his parents or siblings. He attended Waimea College in Nelson for his .

Education and early rugby

Springer attended Waimea College in , a not renowned for elite rugby pathways in contrast to more prominent institutions like . During his schooling, he excelled in rugby, playing for the Waimea Combined First XV and earning the UC Championship Philip McDonald Memorial Medal as the Most Outstanding Player in 2020. Following his graduation, Springer began his early club rugby with Waimea Old Boys, making his Tasman Trophy debut in 2021 where he demonstrated his speed and power by scoring a try. That same year, he was selected for the Crusaders Under-20 side in the Under 20 competition, marking his initial exposure to structured professional youth development. At this early stage, Springer had not yet featured in senior provincial or international rugby.

Club career

Tasman Mako

Macca Springer made his professional debut for the Tasman Mako in the Bunnings NPC on 24 September 2021, entering as a substitute during Round 4 against Waikato at Trafalgar Park in Nelson. This appearance marked his entry into senior domestic rugby in the first year following his high school graduation and youth selection with the Crusaders U20 squad. Over his tenure with Tasman from 2021 to 2025, Springer has accumulated 44 appearances in the NPC, contributing 205 points primarily through tries. He has predominantly featured as a wing—often on the left—or fullback, leveraging his speed and finishing ability to bolster the team's backline. In his debut 2021 season, Springer appeared in five matches, scoring two tries while showing promise on the flanks amid Tasman's runners-up finish. The 2022 campaign marked a breakout, with nine tries across nine games that enhanced Tasman's attacking output during their semi-final run. Continuing his progression, Springer delivered 11 tries in 11 appearances in 2023 and 10 tries in 10 matches in 2024, and 9 tries in 9 matches in 2025, consistently impacting defenses through tackles and turnovers won, as well as driving attacks with line breaks and carries. These efforts have solidified his role in Tasman's NPC campaigns across the seasons.

Crusaders

Macca Springer joined the Crusaders Academy in 2022, serving as a development player while honing his skills alongside the senior squad. Following a strong performance with Tasman in the NPC that year, he earned his first contract in October 2022, transitioning to a full squad member for the 2023 season. Springer made his Super Rugby debut on 24 February 2023, starting on the in Round 1 against the Chiefs at Orangetheory Stadium in , where the Crusaders fell 10–31. This marked the beginning of his rapid integration into the professional ranks, as he featured in 18 matches that debut season, contributing significantly to the team's championship campaign. A standout moment in Springer's Crusaders tenure came in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season, where he delivered a record-tying performance. On 15 March 2025, during Round 5 against the at Apollo Projects Stadium in , Springer scored five tries in a 55–33 victory, equaling the men's single-game record previously set by in 2021. This explosive display, which included tries from breaks and support play, highlighted his speed and finishing ability, with teammate adding three tries in the same match. The performance propelled the Crusaders to a dominant win and underscored Springer's emergence as a key attacking threat. Over three seasons from 2023 to , Springer has made 26 appearances for the Crusaders in , scoring 15 tries for a total of 75 points. His contributions have been pivotal in the team's successes, including titles in 2023 and . In May 2025, recognizing his potential, the Crusaders extended Springer's contract through to the end of 2028, affirming his status as a cornerstone of the franchise's future.

International career

New Zealand under-20

Macca Springer was first selected for the Under-20 squad in 2022, earning his initial international youth caps during the U20 Championship. Playing primarily as a wing in the backline, he featured in three matches across the undefeated tournament campaign, scoring three tries and contributing to 's record 69-12 victory over in the final to secure their fifth title. Springer retained his place in the squad for 2023, featuring through the in . He accumulated a total of eight caps for the Under-20s across both years, scoring a try in each game for 40 points overall. In the championship's Pool A, Springer was instrumental in the backline, notably earning man-of-the-match honors with a of tries in a 62-19 win over , though finished seventh after failing to advance from the pool stage. His consistent try-scoring and dynamic play during the 2022–2023 seasons highlighted Springer's potential as a finisher, positioning him as a promising prospect on the pathway to senior All Blacks selection.

Playing style and reputation

Springer is recognised as an emerging talent and rising star in , particularly as an outside back noted for his try-scoring prowess. His playing style combines exceptional pace, technical skill, and physical power, allowing him to tear apart opposition defenses. Described as a "freakish talent" early in his career, Springer has earned rave reviews for his performances, including scoring nine tries in 15 appearances for Tasman in the 2022 NPC. In 2025, he continued to build his reputation, equaling the single-game try-scoring record with five tries against the and ranking second on the season's try-scoring ladder with eight tries as of June.

References

  1. https://crusaders.co.nz/macca-springer/
  2. https://www.rugbypass.com/players/macca-springer/
  3. https://www.rugbydatabase.co.nz/player/index.php?playerId=3552
  4. https://super.rugby/superrugby/news/crusaders-claim-2025-super-rugby-pacific-title-with-tense-win-over-chiefs/
  5. https://apnews.com/article/super-rugby-crusaders-45f64a15d39b47225fe08899d3d4c310
  6. https://www.rugbypass.com/news/macca-springer-on-scoring-record-equalling-five-tries-against-force/
  7. https://www.itsrugby.co.uk/players/macca-springer-50428.html
  8. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300764573/crusaders-rookie-macca-springer-proof-big-name-schools-arent-the-only-pathway
  9. https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/crusaders-rookie-macca-springer-proof-big-name-schools-arent-the-only-pathway/
  10. https://nelsonapp.co.nz/news/articles/waimea-pip-marist-at-death-in-another-epic-encounter
  11. https://all.rugby/match/20120/npc-2021/tasman-waikato
  12. https://www.mako.nz/our-history/blog-post-title-one-86hr8-cs97z-xybwl-r7mwe-rwz6a-a8fcr-h74mk-64527-csnpx-f5h5b-7lkle-gd936-bkn9y-x6mp5-fawdk-l5hh7-gewda-l8z56-m4ycd
  13. https://crusaders.co.nz/latest/news/debut-season-ahead-for-mako-star-macca-springer/
  14. https://all.rugby/player/macca-springer
  15. https://www.rugbypass.com/news/the-first-person-to-shake-my-hand-was-sam-whitelock-crusaders-rookie-wings-unlikely-rise/
  16. https://crusaders.co.nz/latest/news/macca/
  17. https://super.rugby/superrugby/news/springer-scores-five-in-historic-crusaders-win-over-force/
  18. https://www.rugbypass.com/news/crusaders-lock-in-rising-star-springer-for-the-long-haul/
  19. https://www.allblacks.com/news/new-zealand-under-20-squad-named
  20. https://www.allblacks.com/news/new-zealand-under-20s-crowned-oceania-rugby-champions
  21. https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/macca-r-springer
  22. https://www.allblacks.com/news/new-zealand-under-20-power-past-japan
  23. https://nextgenxv.com/2023/03/01/under-20-rugby-players-to-watch-in-2023/
  24. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/541373/super-rugby-pacific-players-to-watch-in-2025
  25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeUkEM_rw6k
  26. https://crusaders.co.nz/latest/news/macca-springer-signs-to-2028/
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