Blues 2025
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EDIT: Oops, didn't see the Taufa Funaki announcement on Instagram.
Meanwhile, at the Blues, the club have re-signed two of their strongest performers in 2024, inking a two-year extension with 23-year-old halfback Taufa Funaki and a three-year extension with 30-year-old Maori All Blacks prop Marcel Renata.
Salesi Rayasi departs Hurricanes as Blues and Chiefs make key re-signings
As the dust settles on the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, it's becoming clearer what 2025 has in store, and where the opportunities lie.
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PAPALI’I COMMITS TO BLUES FUTURE — Blues Rugby
Loose forward Dalton Papali’i has recommitted to the Blues and New Zealand Rugby through to the end of 2027. The 26-year-old has played 34 Tests since making his All Blacks debut as a 21-year-old against Japan in 2018 and his new deal will take him through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
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@Daffy-Jaffy that's interesting! I thought he'd ply his trade offshore as he hasn't really kicked on. Good news though, having decent backups is really important. Hope he steps up and shines.
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@nzzp said in Blues 2025:
@Daffy-Jaffy that's interesting! I thought he'd ply his trade offshore as he hasn't really kicked on. Good news though, having decent backups is really important. Hope he steps up and shines.
Yeah when @taniwharugby mentioned this was likely earlier in the thread I was surprised
He seems third in the rankings and it was only a couple of years ago he was trying to get an early release. He'll be 30 when this contract ends.. maybe he's just not interested in a stint overseas?
All three halfbacks are back next year
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@Duluth yea I had heard he'd been approached by one of the other nz sides too (unsure if this was for 2023/2024 or this signing, most likely 2023/2024) where he'd have had a better chance at starting, but chose to stay put, where he seems happy to fight for that bench spot, although he is in pretty tight with a few of the staring 15.
Ive long been critical of his play, more out of frustration when you see these fleeting glimpses of his ceiling you wonder why he can't get there more frequently (this applies to both super and npc)
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Players could benefit from development opportunities in Japan after the Blues struck up a rugby partnership with Japanese League One club - Kurita Water Gush, a first for the Kurita Water Industries owned club. The Blues and Kurita Water Gush see mutual benefit in the multi-year partnership with op
Through this partnership some of our young players will have the chance to travel to Japan and develop their game and experience a new culture. Water Gush has a good group of coaches, an ambitious rugby programme and excellent facilities where we feel our players will thrive,” said Hore.
“This partnership will open up opportunities for our coaches and players to engage with a number of very experienced Blues personnel, exchange players between both clubs and better develop our rugby IP and player development system,” said Mori.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Japanese team names are so good. Water Gush. Bravo.
