Blues flanker Luke Braid has been suspended for three weeks for striking Stormers player Nizaam Carr last week in their round four clash in Cape Town.

The Blues have gained the services of one centurion but lost those of another for Friday night’s match against the Hurricanes.

Blues players Rudi Wulf, Anthony Boric, Gareth Anscombe and Charlie Faumuina headed along to the Nation’s Clubrooms at SKYCITY last night to meet fans and receive their prizes for being the Players of the Day

Blues and All Black back Isaia Toeava faces the grim prospect of being out of the game for the rest of the year with a hip injury.

The under strength Blues produced a gallant second half comeback but left their run too late as they were defeated 27-17 by the Stormers in Cape Town this morning.

Another name has been added to the lengthy list of injured Blues players. Winger David Raikuna who was named to start against the Stormers in Cape Town has been withdrawn due to a hamstring injury.

The Blues Development team came agonisingly close to securing a fourth and final win in their campaign, but a missed penalty attempt on full time saw them go down 14-16 against the Fiji Warriors.

Injuries, suspension and bereavement have cut deep into the Blues’ stocks as Pat Lam has been forced to call two players from the Wider Training Group into the 22 to face the Stormers.

Blues prop Tony Woodcock will make his long awaited return to the rugby field tonight, playing for the Blues Development team in their final match of the Pacific Rugby Cup against the Fiji Warriors

Seldom since the days of Carlos Spencer has a Blues first five-eighths stamped his authority on a game quite like Gareth Anscombe did on Sunday morning against the Bulls.