NZ Crusaders Players Form Boyband Group, Release Debut Song!

From rugby players to boyband members? Following their disappointing semi-final loss, five members of the Crusaders have teamed up to form their own boyband, the C-City Brothers.

The boys of One Direction better watch out, they have fierce competition coming from the brawny red-and-blacks backs from New Zealand. Andy Ellis, Israel Dagg, Willi Heinz, Telusa Veainu, and Robbie Fruean have regrouped to moonlight as boyband singers, releasing their debut single “Never Walk Away” on Monday.

The group said that they are modelling their second career on the Irish boyband Westlife and the American group The Backstreet Boys.

“Since I was a little boy I have dreamed of being in a boyband. My inspiration has been bands like the Backstreet Boys and Westlife. Their music continues to motivate me and I still have some of their posters from my childhood,” group founder Ellis has been quoted by the NZ Herald as saying.

The idea to form a group wasn’t sudden. The boys have been thinking about it for years. Ellis said that their motivator was the thought that they have an option outside of playing rugby. But even so, getting into the C-City Brothers wasn’t easy.

“Andy held auditions and all members of the Crusaders gave it a go. At the end though, he was in awe of our skills,” Dagg said.

Ellis wrote their first single with NZ’s Got Talent judge and OpShop star Jason Kerrison. The accompanying music video for the song also made its online debut on YouTube, showing the boys being chased by fans, dancing on the field, and recording in a studio.

“Never Walk Away” is available on iTunes, proceeds of which are benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Association NZ.

The C-City Brothers are expected to go on tour in the country during the summer, if it doesn’t get in the way of their pre-season training.

“Never Walk Away”