Gardiner 'moving up'
Gardiner, the Crusaders team manager since 2012, has been appointed as club General Manager for Professional Rugby.
He will step aside as Crusaders team manager to take up the role.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my five years working as the Crusaders Team Manager and I was determined to see the role through to the end of this season," Gardiner said.
"I am now looking forward to applying the experience I've amassed to a new role and contributing to the team in a different way".
Crusaders Chief Executive Hamish Riach announced the move on Wednesday and said Gardiner was an "outstanding servant" to the franchise.
"His management skills and experience will be a great fit for this role," said Hamish.
"He will also provide a level of constancy and stability for the team as we head into 2017 with a new head coach and some other changes in the team management.
"We had considered him for the job when it was first advertised last year, however at that point Angus was committed to completing his tenure as Team Manager until the end of the 2016 season".
Gardiner played as loose forward for the Crusaders from 1996 to 1999.
He will start his new job on September 1, while the Crusaders have already started looking for his replacement as team manager.
