Fans react to Crusaders dropping knight and swords from logo

The old logo faced criticism after the Christchurch attacks.
The old logo faced criticism after the Christchurch attacks. Photo credit: Photosport.

Rugby fans have reacted to the new Crusaders' logo, which has dumped the sword and knight.

The controversial move came after the Christchurch mosque shootings earlier this year.

The updated logo was rolled out recently on the team's website and in its 2020 membership campaign.

But not all supporters like the new look, with one person complaining it looks like "a school project". 

"The new Crusaders logo looks like the heading to a school project powerpoint some kid made using Wordart," wrote one person on Twitter. "I'm half expecting it to rotate - liked the old one."

Another wrote it was a "joke" and they were "gutted" with the change.

"Absolute joke having Crusaders rugby in the same sentence as the attacks," wrote another on Facebook. "They shouldn't change a thing they have done nothing wrong." 

Someone else said they would stop buying the team's merchandise.

"I will never buy another piece of merchandise and I’ve spent plenty up to now. How pathetic."

Not everyone was negative though, with one person writing: "Makes all my memorabilia worth something and will always wear."

In June, the team announced that, although it would retain the Crusaders name in 2019 and 2020, it would drop the knight-and-sword image from apparel and marketing in 2020.

A full review would also take place to decide the future brand for 2021 and beyond, it said.

Newshub.