Hooker  Derren  Witcombe  was a surprise choice for the Blues in 2002 after just one season of provincial rugby for Northland, but he went on to cement his place in the squad and played five seasons for the club. He missed the 2005 season due to a serious neck injury whilst playing for Auckland against […]

The first French international to grace the Super Rugby competition, Christian Califano made his Test debut for France in Christchurch in 1994 in the same match that began the international career of Jonah Lomu. The versatile campaigner, who was equally at home on either side of the scrum, was named in France’s Team of the […]

The Blues welcome back the experience of captain Augustine Pulu, Patrick Tuipulotu and Jerome Kaino to their starting line-up for the Super Rugby match against the Waratahs in Sydney. The return of the trio to start the game is positive news for the Blues, with Pulu having played 30 minutes off the bench last week, […]

Craig Newby made his Super 12 debut for the Blues in 2001, but only had four starts in his seven appearances, and was more comfortable with the greater opportunities he received in the Highlanders when he first went there as a draft player in 2002. After a season in England in 2002-03 with Newcastle he […]

Matua Parkinson joined the Blues in 2001, a year after making his Super Rugby debut for the Hurricanes. The openside flanker had previously been playing rugby league in Australia for the Canterbury Bulldogs reserve-grade side and for the New Zealand Sevens rugby squad, which he made upon his return to rugby at the end of […]

They say all good things come to those who wait. Well it’s taken a decade for Taniwha prop Ross Wright to get his chance at the Blues. The 31-year-old, born and bred in Wellsford, got his chance when selected for NZ Maori for their end of season tour to Canada and Europe late last year. […]

James Arlidge made a big impression after joining the Blues as an injury replacement for Carlos Spencer in 2001, scoring 18 points against the Cats on debut. Arlidge was a fine goal kicker who played just two seasons for the Blues from 2001-02 before shifting south to play for the Highlanders. After a single season in […]

The Blues hope to have some troops returning to reinforce their Super Rugby clash against the Jaguares at Eden Park on Saturday. With 19 players on the injured list last week, the Blues have named captain Augustine Pulu and Gerard Cowley-Tuioti for a return from injury, although captain Pulu is bracketed for Saturday’s clash. They have […]