Blues 2024
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'cough cough' have tyo say bloody Jafas are going to start getting more of my support with the good work they seem to be doing etc in remembering the fans?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/301016055/blues-boss-andrew-hore-warns-super-rugby-pacific-remains-a-work-in-progress -
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2024:
BLUES, CHIEFS TAKE PRE-SEASON TO JAPAN — Blues Rugby
The Blues and Gallagher Chiefs are taking pre-season on the road this February, with the newly established ‘Cross-Border Rugby 2024’ seeing the two New Zealand DHL Super Rugby Pacific sides take on four teams from Japan Rugby’s League One. The matches will take place in early February, with an eye
Is this a money thing? It seems every second SR team is going up there for pre-season.
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@antipodean NZR (and Rugby Aus) have signed agreements with the Japan RFU. More tests between NZ and Japan (in Japan) is only one result of that. More games between SRP sides and Japan League One sides is another. I also don't think it's a coincidence that we saw more Japanese players in the NPC/provincial development teams. Even Chiefs Manawa now have a Japanese player in the squad announced today.
I have no doubt it's all about the yen.
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Officially confirmed now.
Beauden Barrett is returning to the Blues after his stint playing in Japan, recommitting to New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2027. Barrett will be available for the Blues for their 2025 campaign, having already played 30 matches for the side since his debut in 2020 against the Hurricanes at Eden
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@Stargazer Be curious to know whether any other franchises pushed hard for him.
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Visual confirmation that Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo is training with the squad -
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Annual Navy Mud Run -
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Young Xavi Taele training with the team. Maybe one of the ndc players?
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@Daffy-Jaffy You would think that one of the young NH locks (Cook, Christie) would be in line for a NDC spot.
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King Maxwell also on an ndc with the Blues -
Meat pies & medicine – Maxwell eyes promising future The future looks bright for this year’s Michael Garner Scholarship winner – King Maxwell. Maxwell, who’s preferred position is fullback, has made every post a winner in 2023, representing the Blues U20s, Auckland U19
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He (Maxwell) is one of six players who earned a National Development Contract (NDC) with the Blues this season alongside last year’s Scholarship winner – Xavi Taele.Strange that the article doesn't name the other four NDC players. Have the Blues named them anywhere else?
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Not announced, but we know Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo, Rico Simpson and Riley Williams are training with the squad. They may be ndc players? I also think I spotted Leo Gordon in some posts but not completely sure its him.
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There are also two young front rowers at training as well as Ben Ake. The one in orange i think may be Maliu Nuiafe -
The other next to him I don't recognize, he looks a bit like Ake but it is not him as they appear together briefly in the same video screen shot below (Far left and far right).
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This post is deleted!
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Lock Patrick Tuipulotu will take the reins in 2024, named as Blues Captain for the upcoming DHL Super Rugby Pacific season. Tuipulotu previously captained the side from 2019-2021 and is on the cusp of becoming a Blues centurion, finishing the 2023 season on 99 caps. He said being named as Blues Ca
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