KURT EKLUND

Position
Hooker

Blues debut
2020 v Chiefs

Blues caps
64

Blues points
100

Born
05/01/92

Height
180cm

Weight
103kg

Province
Bay of Plenty

Kurt Eklund made his professional debut for Auckland against Southland in 2015. He played a number of Mitre 10 Cup games for the blue and white hoops before a serious knee injury put him out of the game for 14 months. 

On his return to provincial rugby, Ekland took up an opportunity with Bay of Plenty and is currently the Captain of the Steamers side. 

Eklund resembles the old breed of rugby player. A hard-grafting, uncompromising hooker who has no fear of putting his body on the line for his team. 

The hooker who has a rapper-like nickname of Kurty-E uses his 1.80m and 105kg frame as a battering ram in the tight stuff but has no problem showing a turn of pace when needed out wide or on the break. 

Eklund made his debut for the Blues against the Chiefs in Round Three of the 2020 Super Rugby season. He scored his first try in Round Six of Super Rugby Aotearoa against the Hurricanes at the Cake Tin. His form in 2020 saw him selected as the third hooker in the North squad for the revived ‘North vs South’ clash. 

Eklund became a fan favourite after his Man of the Match performance against the Chiefs which saw him “boof” his full Blue Powerade on TV. 

2021 saw Eklund cement his place as the Blues preferred starting hooker, following the pre-season retirement of James Parsons. A thirst for work and a nose for the try-line saw him finish second top try scorer for the  Blues that season. 

In 2022 Eklund continued his rise as a hooker of note while also assuming a leadership role within the team. He capped an impressive 2022 season by being named Player of the Year at the end of season awards.  

The following season was quieter for Eklund with competition in the hooking ranks meaning he shared game time with fellow rake Ricky Riccitelli. The Bunnings NPC season saw Eklund return to some of his top form, scoring tries from lineout mauls and captaining a young Bay of Plenty side all the way to the Quarter Finals.  

A builder by trade, Eklund built on the foundations of his early career and continued to develop his game in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. His ability to interchange starting and bench spots with Riccitelli made both the Blues hookers a threat for the entire 80 minutes of every game they played. Eklund’s lineout drives and nose for the line contined to keep opposition defences on notice.  

In the Blues 2024 championship season, Eklund featured in the final 10 games in a row – a nod to his durability and body maintenance in a physically demanding position. He scored six tries in the season and was acknowledged with selection in the Māori All Blacks tour to Japan.  

Kurty-E heads into the 2025 Blues season as an experienced head and a safe pair of hands. Fans will be hoping for more memorable moments both on the park and in front of the camera! 

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