Blues 2025

[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.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Blues squad for 2025
Props: Angus Ta’avao, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Marcel Renata, Jordan Lay, Joshua Fusitu’a, PJ Sheck, Ben Ake
Hookers: Kurt Eklund, Ricky Riccitelli, James Mullan
Locks: Laghlan McWhannell, Cameron Christie, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Josh Beehre
Loose forwards: Cameron Suafoa, Adrian Choat, Dalton Papali’i, Anton Segner, Hoskins Sotutu, Che Clark
Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Sam Nock, Taufa Funaki
First five-eighths: Stephen Perofeta, Harry Plummer, Beauden Barrett
Midfielders: Xavi Taele, Corey Evans, Meihana Grindlay, Rieko Ioane
Outside backs: Zarn Sullivan, Mark Tele’a, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Payton Spencer, Reon Paul, Cole Forbes

Ins: Ben Ake, Cameron Christie, Che Clark, Beauden Barrett, Xavi Taele, Payton Spencer, Reon Paul
Outs: Soane Vikena, James Thompson, Akira Ioane, Rob Rush, Lucas Cashmore, Bryce Heem, Kade Banks, Caleb Tangitau

[Bovidae]

Thompson is unlucky to miss out as he did well in his brief appearances.

[Tim]

@Bovidae Was going to comment that. What's the skinny on Reon Paul?

[Bovidae]

@Tim said in Blues 2025:

What's the skinny on Reon Paul?

@ARHS is a fan. A midfielder who can play on the wing.

[Tim]

I imagine that the main selection questions will be over how they use their playmakers, and the loose forward mix. Perofeta, Plummer, Barrett, and Sullivan will be tough to fit into a 23. Suafoa to 6, and Segner on the bench?

[Duluth]

A stable squad. Only missing Akira & Heem from the 23 that started the final

[Crazy Horse]

I haven't seen anything of Spencer. Does he warrant a spot now or is he more of a hopeful pick for the future?

[Duluth]

@Crazy-Horse said in Blues 2025:

I haven't seen anything of Spencer. Does he warrant a spot now or is he more of a hopeful pick for the future?

He's been injured almost all year. Had some good moments in the 2023 NPC.. but that was only 3 games

So it is slightly risky

[Daffy Jaffy]

7 Props and only 6 loosies is a small concern. Especially with Suafoa's health concerns. I imagine Christie may get a run covering 6 occasionally and Trystan Cook is sure to be in the academy/wtg. No Tito-Harris is the other surprise. Must be returning to Sevens. Reon Paul is the biggest surprise but i have liked the small highlights I've seen of him at NPC level.. I know little about Mullen. About fifth ranked Canterbury hooker called up to Super rugby off of 2 starts and 5 bench games over 2 seasons. Someone in the know must rate him. He is only 21 so has time to develop but could be on the bench in some big games..

[junior12]

@Daffy-Jaffy James Mullan has a ton of potential. Was NZ Schools hooker in 2020 but sitting behind George Bell in every Canterbury team since. I believe he also studies Broadcasting, hence a move to Auckland probably makes sense in that regard too. He is deceptively quick and is a similar mould to a Dane Coles type hooker.

[KiwiMurph]

I would rather see Lam as a midfielder and have another wing option.

I know Taele has talent and is one for the future but he is physically very small and I question how much he will play next season.

I wonder if Grindlay was on a 2 year deal as he was barely sighted this year. Will need him to step up with no Heem

[ARHS]

@Bovidae said in Blues 2025:

@Tim said in Blues 2025:

What's the skinny on Reon Paul?

@ARHS is a fan. A midfielder who can play on the wing.

Yep, intelligent player who seems to make good metres whenever he gets the ball.