COLE FORBES

Position
Fullback

Blues debut
2024 v Fijian Drua

Blues caps
16

Blues points
15

Born
10/8/1999

Height
180cm

Weight
91kg

Cole Forbes is a product of Pukekohe who was raised in Tauranga and made his first splash on the rugby scene when he played for the New Zealand Under-19 team in 2019.  

Forbes moved to Scotland in 2021 to play for the Glasgow Warriors where he made 38 appearances and gained valuable experience away from home. His talent was recognised in June 2021 when he was called into the Scotland squad for the summer internationals.  

He returned to New Zealand in 2023 to play for Bay of Plenty in the Bunnings NPC and impressed with his fleet of foot and communication skills at the back.  

In his 2024 debut season at the Blues, Forbes made a real impression - his running lines and support play were two key features of his game. He became somewhat of a ‘Mr Fix It’ for the team when injury hit and appeared in all but one of the Blues’ 2024 matches.  

One for the train spotters - he came off the bench to play flanker in both his Blues debut and in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific Final! Forbes returned to the Bay of Plenty for the Bunnings NPC and will enter the 2025 Blues season as an already well-established and trusted fullback option. 

Cole is contracted with the Blues through until the end of the 2026 season.