Blues 2021
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'I couldn't see myself ever going back': How New Zealand Rugby nearly lost its next big star to the NRL
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens hardly let the ink on his final high school exam dry before his professional rugby career took off, but it could have taken a drastically different turn had an NRL club had its way.
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ignoring the hyperbole headline, alot seems to be being made of this guy, I'll admit I only watched him in the M10 Cup last year, but I didnt see anything that made me go wow!
He looked handy, but nothing to what he is being talked up?
Isnt he the kid who was running the Sky cables in 2019? Cool story, and be great if he did make the cut, but heaping the pressure much?
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@KiwiMurph to be fair I don't think it would of mattered who was in front of Laumape that day. He was running over everyone in that mood.
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@taniwharugby His performance in the Shield game vs a full strength Canterbury was certainly 'wow' worthy.
There were current ABs all over the field that day and he was magnificent.
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@Stargazer said in Blues 2021:
@Tim I think the Ferner closest to the venue should be nominated.
That's how I got appointed the fern's serial killer. Seemed to work.
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@KiwiMurph And we call out Blake Gibson for his injuries haha
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The race to replace Beauden Barrett: Who starts for the Blues in their 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa opener?
With Super Rugby Aotearoa due to kick-off in just over a month, the Blues have plenty to weigh up as they look to fill the void left by Beauden Barrett.
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@Daffy-Jaffy that's a pretty poor article.
MacDonald has already mentioned JRK as a possible fullback option which this article doesn't touch on at all.
No mention of Faiane's injury.
No mention of Jacob Pierce as a lock option.
No mention of the injuries/unavailabilities at hooker.
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'Game changer': Blues' historic move to help keep young talent
Blues overhaul talent system with chief executive claiming it will be a "game changer".
Super Rugby: 'Game changer' - Blues' historic move to help keep young talent
Liam Napier
27 Jan, 2021
Blues overhaul talent system with chief executive claiming it will be a "game changer".
The Blues have signed an historic memorandum of understanding with their three provincial unions to overhaul the region's much-maligned talent identification and set an ambitious goal to establish the world's premier development system.
Long criticised for letting talented players and coaches slip through their grasp, the Blues hope the new agreement with Northland, North Harbour and Auckland will allow them to capture the best emerging prospects and alter perceptions about a franchise that, while improving, has failed to deliver a title for 18 years.
The catalyst for the new integrated talent identification system was the independent review completed by high performance consultants Eddie Kohlhase, Ken Lynch and Paul McAlpine in late 2019.
Changes include the Blues, rather than the provincial unions, first approaching talent. Academies will be improved, with set standards implemented across the three unions. Contracting will also be aligned to ensure specific provincial talent is locked in early by the Blues.
The final part of the equation is a coaching scholarship which will welcome an emerging mentor into the Blues each year, with a plan for that person to return to work with a provincial union to continue their progression.
From a playing perspective, Auckland outside backs Zarn Sullivan and AJ Lam joining the Blues this season reflects the projected pathway from all three unions.
"We believe this can be a game changer for rugby in our region," Blues chief executive Andrew Hore said.
"Auckland and the Blues region is a funny place in that selection and recruitment is always a point of opinion and with the way the franchise model is constructed, we're not going to be able to keep everybody.
"But the ones we do decide to keep we want to be sure we've got a greater probability of keeping them, and if they stay here, they have the world's best development experience.
"This gets dedicated resource to ensure we have paid people to shape the pathway for a high quality level of development over and above anything else you get anywhere else in New Zealand.
"We're starting to see the fruits of recent work coming through and there's some kids starting to sit up and say 'the best place for us to go is the Blues region'. We want to continue that trend."
The memorandum of understanding signals something of a sea change in the relationship between the Blues and their provincial partners. Not so long ago, during the fraught Andy Dalton-Murray Bolton era, Auckland were barred from training at the Blues' Alexandra Park base, such was the fractured state of affairs.
"Covid in a lot of ways brought us closer together because we were sharing similar issues and seeing the frailties in our system," Hore said. "There's always going to be tenson - it's having a level of maturity to work through things.
"The depth of conversation has been outstanding because people have had to be really honest. In this environment that can be challenging but the fact we got to this point is a sign we tried to find solutions to those problems.
"We've got to get aligned on the attributes we're wanting to keep, and the attributes we're actually happy to let go. There's only 38 spots in the Blues."
To oversee talent identification the Blues have appointed Andrew Hewetson as the head of performance development.
Hewetson brings established relationships, having worked with Counties Manukau, Auckland age-grade and academy teams, and as an assistant at St Kentigern College and Auckland Grammar. For the past five years he was a development consultant at Sport New Zealand.
"We believe this plan will provide the framework for a systematic, region-wide approach to understanding what it will take to attract, recruit and develop the right players in the right way in an effective development environment," Hore said.
"We know it will take an extraordinary amount of hard work, goodwill and a willingness to work collaboratively. Equally we are massively excited at the opportunity and challenge ahead of us."
Auckland Rugby Union chief executive Jarrod Bear said he sees the benefits in working more collaboratively with the Blues and his view was shared by North Harbour chairman, Gerard Van Tilborg, and Northland Rugby Union chief executive Cameron Bell.
"Northland has long been known throughout Aotearoa as a prolific nursery for producing stunning rugby talent and this collaboration with the Blues will ensure we harness and nurture our very best to have the opportunity to play Super Rugby and beyond," Bell said. "When Northland rugby is at its strongest, the Blues will be too and this is a very positive step forward."
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Parsons has retired
James Parsons announces his retirement from all rugby
Blues and North Harbour centurion James Parsons has today announced that he has decided to retire from all rugby.
