Blues 2025

[mikedogz]

He was at the League test. Probably helping his son who will play age grade for the warriors settle in and getting some professional development in as well.

[Nepia]

@george33 said in Blues 2025:

Ivan Cleary with Vern Cotter at Blues HQ today.

Comp winning coaches catching up and sharing ideas - is there any official media about it?

[Crazy Horse]

@Nepia said in Blues 2025:

@george33 said in Blues 2025:

Ivan Cleary with Vern Cotter at Blues HQ today.

Comp winning coaches catching up and sharing ideas - is there any official media about it?

Tax write off for Cleary?

[mikey07]

@george33 Was listening to the bye round podcast a few weeks ago and the CEO of the Panthers was on there he said that they quite often go around different sports in the off season to get ideas on what they could improve on.

[nzzp]

Ricky off to France? Rumors in the French newspapers apparently

Dismantling the dominant forward pack.

[Duluth]

@nzzp

a few posts about it here:
https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/post/1000349

[Daffy Jaffy]

Preseason game v Crusaders -

[nzzp]

@Duluth said in Blues 2025:

@nzzp

a few posts about it here:
https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/post/1000349

thanks - missed that during the day.

I'm still disappointed.

[Duluth]

@nzzp said in Blues 2025:

I'm still disappointed.

Same. Not many details yet. Hopefully he’s still playing the 2025 SR season before leaving

[Machpants]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2025:

Preseason game v Crusaders -

It's in a crop field?

Bold strategy

[Nepia]

@Machpants said in Blues 2025:

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2025:

Preseason game v Crusaders -

It's in a crop field?

Bold strategy

If you build it they will come.

[Steven Harris]

@Nepia if you build it they will come 😉

[Daffy Jaffy]

This upcoming squad announcement has much more intrigue and unknowns than I expected it would after a successful last season.

Take the confirmed departures -

Tangitau, Vikena, Banks, Akira Ioane.

and the strongly rumored ones -

Perofeta, Riccitelli, Rush, Heem (injury enforced retirement?) Reiko Ioane (sabbatical?).

then other players off contract that have not yet been announced as re-signed -

Laghlan McWhannell
PJ Sheck
James Thompson
Lucas Cashmore
Meihana Grindlay
Jordan Lay

While rumors may not be true and some of the last group could still be re-signed, in total there are potentially up to 15 possible changes including the 3 new signings announced so far -

B. Barrett, Peyton Spencer, Che Clarke.

Tuesday should be interesting.

[Daffy Jaffy]

From Blues Facebook -
Champs go last
We’ll be the last team to drop our Super Rugby Pacific squad
Tuesday 3pm, mark your calendars

[brodean]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2025:

From Blues Facebook -
Champs go last
We’ll be the last team to drop our Super Rugby Pacific squad
Tuesday 3pm, mark your calendars

Got to say I'm feeling a bit pessimistic. Seems like the squad is going to be ravaged.

[Daffy Jaffy]

from Blues media - as rumored further up the thread -
Some unfortunate news out of Blues HQ, Bryce Heem will miss the entire 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season with a wrist injury 🥲

Best of luck on your recovery uncle 💙

Commence 1 full day of sadness before our full squad is announced tomorrow

[Daffy Jaffy]

A punt from left field -
About 2 weeks ago Blues Insta story posted a random video of Melani Nanai scoring for the Blues off a flukey deflected kick, with the commentary saying "no-one expected that" could it have been a hint at him signing as an experienced mid-field/Wing replacement for Heem? Nanai has been playing in Canada and for Manu Samoa in the Pacific series. May be nothing in it but if it is so 'You heard it here first'.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Blues Facebook posted this morning -

"We may or may not have 7 new players 👀"

So there may be fewer squad changes than we suspected.

[Mr Fish]

There's at least seven even if you're only counting the publically confirmed departures, no?

Vikena, Akira, Rush, Cashmore, Heem, Banks, Tangitau?

[Mr Fish]

No shocks in the Blues squad - some good youngsters added to the mix (plus Beauden Barrett). No major unannounced departures/transfers from other sides.