Blues 2023
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PAPALII JOINS ALL BLACKS TO EXTEND CONTRACT AT THE BLUES — Blues Rugby
Blues and All Black loose forward, Dalton Papalii has announced he will extend his time at the club to at least 2024. The 24-year-old enjoyed an outstanding 2022 season, leading the Blues to a 15-2 season, where they set new mark for wins, points scored and tries scored in a season. Papalii said h
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@Tim said in Blues 2023:
Vikena looks like a gun to me. Do you think that MacDonald, who can be rather conservative, will give him starts next season?
I think he could be an AB very soon, and should be looking to be the top dog at the Blues in 2023.
Eklund should start the season (barring injury) as top hooker given his 2022 season. Just unfortunate he left his worst game for the final. But agree Vikena should get more starts given he’s had a couple of seasons of Super rugby under his belt. His set piece is good but is much more dynamic than Eklund with ball in hand.
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@TheMojoman Eklund is quality with ball in hand so I can't agree there. Vikena's strength all round the park is his biggest asset imo.
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@Yeetyaah said in Blues 2023:
Hearing from a very reliable source that Ioane Afoa might be involved with Auckland and the Blues next year as he's finishing up in France. He's been to Blues HQ and chatted with the management.
A coaching role ? he is 39 this year.
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@Chris said in Blues 2023:
@Yeetyaah said in Blues 2023:
Hearing from a very reliable source that Ioane Afoa might be involved with Auckland and the Blues next year as he's finishing up in France. He's been to Blues HQ and chatted with the management.
A coaching role ? he is 39 this year.
Last I heard he was in the D2 right, so it would be hard to come back to Super rugby from there.
A coaching role would make sense but perhaps if they are stuck with two/three departures (that we may not know about it) he could do a job with youngsters?
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@gt12 said in Blues 2023:
@Chris said in Blues 2023:
@Yeetyaah said in Blues 2023:
Hearing from a very reliable source that Ioane Afoa might be involved with Auckland and the Blues next year as he's finishing up in France. He's been to Blues HQ and chatted with the management.
A coaching role ? he is 39 this year.
Last I heard he was in the D2 right, so it would be hard to come back to Super rugby from there.
A coaching role would make sense but perhaps if they are stuck with two/three departures (that we may not know about it) he could do a job with youngsters?
I am sure he would add a lot as a mentor.
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@gt12 said in Blues 2023:
Last I heard he was in the D2 right, so it would be hard to come back to Super rugby from there.
He’s just finished with Bristol but is meant to be starting that 2 year French deal now.
He was still playing well for Bristol but I think some injuries were limiting his game time
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@Duluth said in Blues 2023:
@gt12 said in Blues 2023:
Last I heard he was in the D2 right, so it would be hard to come back to Super rugby from there.
He’s just finished with Bristol but is meant to be starting that 2 year French deal now.
He was still playing well for Bristol but I think some injuries were limiting his game time
Ah OK, a quick google shows you're right, so maybe he's decided to axe Europe early?
