Blues 2023

[Kirwan]

Couldn’t say it better. Very well liked by his teammates.

[Tim]

Who are the new locks that are available next year, who might be ready for regular game time?

Beehre (Auckland), Craig (Northland), Kalapu (?/Force) come to mind.

Will a new coach shake things up? Select more young players?

[Tim]

Prop contracts:

Josh Fusitua - 2025
Ofa Tuʻungafasi - 2024
Alex Hodgman - 2023
Nepo Laulala - 2023
James Lay - ?
Marcel Renata - ?
Jordan Lay - injury cover

Could be looking for a few new ones for next season. Sione Ahio? Tito Tuipulotu?

[Tim]

Hooker contracts:

Eklund - 2023
Riccitelli - 2023
Vikena - ?

[Stargazer]

@Tim Vikena is contracted for the 2024 season.

[Tim]

@Stargazer Cheers. Do you have a link?

[Stargazer]

@Tim https://web.archive.org/web/20201202195634/https://blues.rugby/2021-squad-named/

[Tim]

@Stargazer Thanks.

[Daffy Jaffy]

[Duluth]

Is that Leni Apisai in the back of the video?

[Duluth]

Papali’i banned for three weeks. That’s the rest of the regular season

At least Choat is in good form and can start at 7

[Kirwan]

Well he's been nursing a rib injury, so at least that will be cleared up. Choat at 7 and Akira at 6 keeps the quality of the loosies high, and the german has also been good.

[Stargazer]

Effectively, it may only be 2 weeks if he's allowed to get a week off his suspension when doing that tackle intervention programme (assuming it's his first offence since that was introduced a few years ago). Waiting for the official decision from SANZAAR to find out.

[Duluth]

@Stargazer said in Blues 2023:

Effectively, it may only be 2 weeks if he's allowed to get a week off his suspension when doing that tackle intervention programme (assuming it's his first offence since that was introduced a few years ago). Waiting for the official decision from SANZAAR to find out.

One of those games was likely to be AB rest too

[Crucial]

No indication of a week off for the course in this article.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300879995/super-rugby-pacific-blues-captain-dalton-papalii-banned-for-three-weeks

[Duluth]

@Kirwan said in Blues 2023:

and the german has also been good

I assume he'll be getting another start soon as Sotutu will probably have an enforced AB break

It'll be interesting to see what they do with Robinson. With Choat & Segner they have some good options in the loosies. However there is a bit of a squeeze at lock with Darry gone.

The top locks would be Tuipulotu, Suafoa & Tucker. They are an injury away from needing Robinson at lock. It'd be worth getting him some time in the second row in the next 3 weeks, even if it's just from the bench

[Dan54]

Anyway no Dalton for next 3 weeks it seems.

[george33]

@Duluth Robert Rush

[Duluth]

@george33 said in Blues 2023:

@Duluth Robert Rush

What about him? In the 23 this week? Or are you suggesting him as lock cover?

[george33]

@Duluth 23 hasn't been sighted yet but his time is now out side taniela (injury) only squad member that hasn't played a part , but he did get in a situation with senior squad members preseason his last chance if selected or he will b moved on