The Blues have kicked off our new relationship with Honda Heat Rugby Club with a camp in Suzuka, Japan to help prepare for the return to Investec Super Rugby. The Blues squad spent a week at the Honda Heat training base and the camp involved combined training sessions, staff connections and a match. The Blues […]

Josh Blackie returned to New Zealand Rugby in 2009 after two seasons playing in Kobe, Japan. For the former Otago, Highlanders, New Zealand Sevens and Junior All Black openside flanker, it was also a return home, as Blackie was raised and educated in west Auckland. He made one appearance for the Blues as a draft player in 2002, […]

Ferocious on the field and a gentleman off it, big lock Patrick Tuipulotu prefers to let his actions on the paddock do the talking for him. Nevertheless, we managed to lure in the 12-test All Black with promises of fresh meatloaf if he answered these questions for us… What’s your favourite meal? Meatloaf with mashed […]

When Jimmy Tupou lead the Blues onto the field in his first ever game for the club – our round one clash against the Rebels in Melbourne – he joined Zinzan Brooke as the only other player to captain the team on debut. “That was only because James and Jerome were unavailable for that first […]

Prop Mike Storey played just two games for the Blues in his only season with the club in 2002. Storey made his provincial debut for Northland in 1999 after an off-season playing rugby in France. He was a regular age grade representative for his province before trying his hand at league in 1995 and 1996. Storey […]

At last night’s Blues Awards we bid farewell to the gentle giant with fast feet, a big heart, and an even bigger smile. That’s right. After a remarkable nine Super Rugby seasons with us, Charlie Faumuina leaves the Blues as the sixth most-capped player in our history, and joins an esteemed group of legendary players […]

A member of the world champion New Zealand Under-19 side in 1999, Jason Shoemark has also won two international titles with the New Zealand Under-21s and captained the side to the World Cup in South Africa in 2001. Shoemark made six appearances for the Blues from 2002-2003 but then shifted south to Otago in 2004, following that up […]

Formerly a forestry worker from the Awanui club – one of the northern-most in New Zealand – Vula Maimuri did a superb job for the Highlanders in his debut Super 12 season in 2001 before joining the Blues from 2002-2003. He played 5 tests for Fiji and also played for the New Zealand Barbarians during their win over the […]

Matt Lord began his professional rugby career with North Harbour, winning the 2001 Players Player of the Year for the team. He was called in to the Blues in 2002 before moving to England the same year to take up a contract with the Northampton Saints. He played there until 2009, making 154 appearances.