New Zealand rugby icon, Paul Tito, completes the Blues coaching staff picture today, signing on as Assistant Coach for the 2023 season.

Tito comes to the Blues off the back of successful coaching stints with Georgia, who claimed victory over Wales in the recent autumn international window and for the past two seasons has been Forwards Coach at the Wellington Lions who are the current NPC title and Ranfurly Shield holders.

He takes over from Ben Afeaki who has taken an exciting opportunity with Rugby New York in Major League Rugby in the United States.

“I’m looking forward to getting stuck in with the boys this season,” said Tito.

“It’s an exciting squad Leon and his fellow coaches have put together. There’s a lot of consistency in personnel which I think is a really good thing - I’m sure they’ll be hungry after last season and want to go one better.”

Tito brings 12 years of professional playing experience to the role while in recent years has filled coaching roles with Taranaki, Western Force, Wellington Lions and internationally with Georgia.

After seven years playing for the Hurricanes, he went overseas and linked up with the Cardiff Blues from 2007 to 2012, making 124 appearances and captaining the side to European Challenge Cup and EDF Energy Cup wins.

He said both his playing and coaching experiences will help bring something new to the role at the Blues.

“I’ve been around rugby for a while now so I’m looking forward to imparting what I have learnt over the years to this vibrant and exciting group of Blues forwards. As a former lock, I’ll have a focus on the lineout, from what I’ve seen there’s a good foundation to build from and I’ll also add my little bit of spice to the equation,” he said.

Blues Head Coach, Leon MacDonald, is looking forward to linking up with the man known as ‘Fish’. “I played against Paul a lot back in the day - he was always a dogged and hard working opponent,” MacDonald said.

“I’ve been impressed with what he’s done from a coaching standpoint in recent years, you only have to look at Georgia’s recent win over Wales and Wellington’s success to see the impact someone like Paul can have on a group.”