World Cup-winning All Black and Blues centurion John Afoa signs with Crusaders

Former All Blacks prop and Blues centurion John Afoa has signed with the Crusaders for the remainder of the Super Rugby season.

It’s understood the grizzly 39-year-old veteran, who recently finished the northern season with French club RC Vannes, arrived in Christchurch on Thursday to reinforce the injury-ravaged reigning champions.

The Crusaders have been particularly hard hit up front, losing four props to season-ending injuries, including All Blacks Joe Moody (ankle), George Bower (knee) and Fletcher Newell (foot). Finlay Brewis (shoulder) is also done.

Afoa, who earned the last of his 38 tests for the All Blacks in 2011 and is a World Cup winner, hasn’t played Super Rugby since the 2011 season, when he departed for Ulster with 104 Blues caps to his name.

However, it’s understood the Crusaders could throw him straight into the mix against the Waratahs in Christchurch on Saturday afternoon.

The deal wasn’t over the line when coach Scott Robertson named his team on Thursday, but the Crusaders are eager to take a load off Tamaiti Williams’ shoulders ahead of the playoffs and now have the capability to do so.

Williams is one of only three Crusaders – flankers Tom Christie and Christian Lio-Willie are the others – to have played in all 12 games this year, and the 140kg prop and captain Scott Barrett are the only two to have started 11 matches.

Had the gash to Oli Jager’s leg, suffered against the Blues a fortnight ago, not become infected and ruled him out this week, the Crusaders likely would have rested Williams this week from the start.

Nevertheless, Afoa’s arrival allows them to do so, meaning Williams can re-charge for next week’s regular season finale against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

The Crusaders called in former Chief Reuben O’Neill as injury cover this week, and Robertson hinted a veteran prop with overseas experience was potentially arriving next week.

“It's incredible, we've worked real hard to find who is available in propping stocks... I've been talking to a lot of agents, they are a rare breed. They are precious. You need them. You don't have a game of rugby without a front row and a ref.”

Since leaving New Zealand as a 28-year-old in his prime, the durable Auckland-born prop has played for Ulster (58 caps), Gloucester (105 caps), Bristol (89 caps) and Vannes (14).

Having made his debut for Auckland in 2002 as an 18-year-old, he signed a new contract with Vannes last year, which will take him through to mid-2024, by which time he will be 40.

When Afoa departed Bristol last year, Kiwi coach Pat Lam called him “one of the greatest ever tightheads to play in the Premiership”.

Afoa started his Super Rugby career with the Blues in 2004, the year after they won their last crown.

However, he could yet get his hands on a Super Rugby title before he retires, as the Crusaders chase a seventh title in as many years.

Should the Crusaders beat the Waratahs, and the Chiefs beat the Brumbies in Canberra later on Saturday night, they’ll lock up the second seed.