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 […]

Brad Mika returned from Japan to play for the Blues in 2011 but a knee injury followed by an Achilles injury kept him sidelined for the entire season. Prior to heading overseas Mika had played for the Blues, Hurricanes and Crusaders in Super Rugby as well as three tests for the All Blacks 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 […]

Deacon Manu was born in New Zealand but played representative rugby for both the New Zealand Maori against the British and Irish Lions (3 caps) and for Fiji (14 caps). The prop’s first professional rugby match was with Waikato in 1999, followed closely by a Super Rugby contract with the Chiefs in 2001. Manu was […]

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 […]

David Gibson started his career in Taranaki at fullback for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team before shifting to Otago University. He made the Otago and North Island Under-18s and went on to play for the New Zealand Under-19 and Under-21 sides. In 2002 he played for the Highlanders but moved to Auckland to play […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]