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All Blacks duo re-sign with Blues ahead of 2022 Super Rugby Pacific
All Blacks props Karl Tu’inukuafe and Alex Hodgman have re-signed with the Blues ahead of the inaugural 2022 Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
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Tu’inukuafe will stay on board with the Auckland-based franchise through until the end of 2022, while Hodgman has inked a two-year contract extension.
Retaining the services of the All Blacks duo ensures the Blues will be equipped with one of the strongest propping stocks in the competition.
In addition to Tu’inukuafe and Hodgman, the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman champions also have All Blacks pair Ofa Tuungafasi and Nepo Laulala in their ranks, as well as Maori All Blacks representative Marcel Renata.
A member of the current All Blacks squad, Tu’inukuafe has been part of the Blues set-up since 2019 after making his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs as an injury replacement the year beforehand.
That same year, he was a surprise call-up to the All Blacks squad for the 2018 mid-year test series against France, again as an injury replacement, and has gone on to play 23 tests for New Zealand since then.
Hodgman, meanwhile, is a veteran of the Kiwi rugby scene, having made his provincial debut for Canterbury in 2014 and his Super Rugby debut for the Crusaders a year later.
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The former New Zealand and Fiji U20 representative transferred to the Blues in 2017 and Auckland in 2019, and made his All Blacks debut last year on the back of a standout Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign.
Despite his four test appearances in 2020, Hodgman wasn’t included in this year’s All Blacks squad, but remains a contender for future selection at international level.
Blues head coach Leon MacDonald said the duo are crucial to his side’s game plan and is excited about what they can offer as they look to secure back-to-back titles next year.
“We are blessed to have a group of quality, hard-working props who are the cornerstone of our set-piece. In turn this is fundamental to our ability to develop front-foot possession for our running weapons wider out,” he said.
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“They are a hard-working group on the grass and in the gym who challenge each other and learn from one another.”
The recommitment of both Tu’inukuafe and Hodgman to the Blues will also be pleasing for All Blacks boss Ian Foster as their contract extensions provides him with depth leading into the 2023 World Cup in France.
The USA vs All Blacks is available to watch live in the US, Canada and Mexico on FloRugby
Comments on RugbyPass
To me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
30 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
30 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
30 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
30 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
30 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
30 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
30 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to comments