Blues 2021

[Stargazer]

Tony Brown just let it slip that the Blues have signed AJ Lam. It did sound like the Highlanders tried to sign him, too, but he wanted to stay close to his family.

[Yeetyaah]

@Stargazer surely they don't sign Lam and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens? Idk I'm just hopeful he plays for the Chiefs.

[Stargazer]

Leon talking about Zarn Sullivan. Didn't use the word "signed", but it seems clear that he's one of the new signings.

[Tim]

@Stargazer Cheers.

[Stargazer]

Anyone else had the impression from the interview with the AB7s coach that Clarke, Rayasi, Koroi and Nanai-Seturo would play sevens in 2021, but would play SR as well? I assume Gregory, too, but it all went a bit fast. Would have to hear it again. I'm sure it will be posted on YouTube.

[Canes4life]

@Stargazer yeah that's my impression aswell. Maybe available for Super Rugby Aotearoa but not the comp with Aus...

[Yeetyaah]

Did this happen?

[Stargazer]

@Yeetyaah Read a few posts back in this thread and you have your answer.

[Crazy Horse]

@Bones said in Blues 2021:

@Crazy-Horse said in Blues 2021:

I have yet to see AJ Lam do anything to make him stand out, good or bad. Have I missed something?

Hah that's weird to see when I've missed the last couple of games and he was absolutely carving up prior to that. Wasn't he high up in both tries scored and assists?

I never saw the early games where Lam was carving up. The ones I saw he was solid enough - no glaring errors. I couldn't even tell if he was fast ot not.

[Yeetyaah]

@Stargazer I read, but y'all said it wasn't confirmed by MacDonald and nothing confirmed about either of them.

[Tim]

Blues 2021 squad:

Hookers: Ray Niuia ( Ta$man), James Parsons (North Harbour), Soane Vikena (Auckland).

Props: Alex Hodgman (Auckland), Nepo Laulala (Counties Manukau), James Lay (Auckland), Marcel Renata (Auckland), Karl Tu’inukuafe (North Harbour), Ofa Tuungafasi (Auckland).

Locks: Gerard Cowley-Tuioti (North Harbour), Sam Darry (Canterbury), Josh Goodhue (Northland), Jacob Pierce (North Harbour), Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland).

Loose forwards: Blake Gibson (Auckland), Dillon Hunt (North Harbour), Akira Ioane (Auckland), Dalton Papalii (Counties Manukau), Taine Plumtree (Wellington), Tom Robinson (Northland), Hoskins Sotutu (Auckland).

Halfbacks: Finlay Christie ( Ta$man), Sam Nock (Northland), Jonathan Ruru (Auckland).

Inside backs: Otere Black (Bay of Plenty), Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki), Harry Plummer (Auckland).

Midfield: TJ Faiane (Auckland), Rieko Ioane (Auckland), Tanielu Tele’a (Auckland).

Outside backs: Caleb Clarke (Auckland), AJ Lam (Auckland), Jone Macilai-Tori (Northland), Emoni Narawa (Bay of Plenty), Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (Taranaki), Zarn Sullivan (Auckland), Mark Telea ( Ta$man).

[Tim]

No Eklund. Only three midfield backs.

[taniwharugby]

@Tim wow, Macilai!

[Tim]

Blues development player of the year and New Zealand under-20 hooker Vikena (signed for four years) was injured in the Mitre-10 Cup, which means the well-performed Kurt Eklund returns as injury cover. Eklund (Bay of Plenty) has signed a two-year deal with the Blues that kicks in from 2022.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300173586/super-rugby-blues-add-swathe-of-young-comers-to-bolster-deep-and-impressive-squad

[Yeetyaah]

Fuuuuck look at that backline depth. Y'all managed to snag Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.

[Bovidae]

Plumtree?

It's not like Auckland doesn't have a surplus of loose forwards around. Finau was involved with the Blues this year too.

[Tim]

The first-year players are Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, lock Sam Darry (Canterbury), Plumtree (Wellington) and the Auckland quartet of hooker Soane Vikena, Lam, Sullivan and Samoa and ex-Bristol prop Lay.

[Tim]

@Bovidae Yeah, odd selection. Like the hookers, may be due to early signings?

[Tim]

Depth in midfield is a big concern.

[taniwharugby]

@Tim i had heard the Blues were keen on Tua, I wonder if he might be available for the latter part of the season, so they'll give him a Dev contract or something ?