Ardie Savea not the only new face in Jason Holland's first Blues squad

The Blues have undoubtedly pulled off the biggest signing of the Super Rugby Pacific offseason, but All Blacks captain Ardie Savea is only one of nine new faces in new head coach Jason Holland’s camp.

A reinvigorated Rieko Ioane will also have the Auckland faithful on their feet when he makes his return from a sabbatical season at Leinster, where he took home the URC title. New Zealand U20 graduate James Cameron joins Ioane in the midfield group.

The local Auckland production line has been busy and rather fruitful for the club, which lost core servants Stephen Perofeta, AJ Lam, Dalton Papali’i, Hoskins Sotutu, Sam Nock and Kurt Eklund after the 2026 campaign.

The new arrivals are youthful and promising, headlined by Tasman star Eli Oudenryn, who made his debut from the wider training group at the end of the 2026 season. Jack Lee, Leo Gordon, Jed Melvin, Mason Tupaea and Torian Barnes are also elevated from the 2026 wider training group, though Barnes was an early call-up after Cam Christie’s pre-season injury and went on to make 14 appearances in his first season in Auckland, and Tupaea played 16 games.

“The region is producing quality young players, and we want them to see a clear pathway into this team. Some of these guys will get their first real chance in 2027, and I can’t wait to see what they do with it,” said Holland.

Rory Taylor didn’t even make the wider training group in 2026, but is now a fully fledged Blues squad member after a breakthrough season for North Harbour. Nic Shearer and Cam Millar have moved north from the Highlanders to start a new chapter in the City of Sails, while capped Wallaby Darby Lancaster has made a rare move across the Tasman from the Western Force.

And then, of course, there is All Blacks centurion and 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year, Ardie Savea.

“Ardie is one of the best players in the world, but what excites me just as much is what he brings to the group – his energy, his standards and the way he connects with people. Our young loosies will learn a huge amount just by being around him every day,” Holland enthused.

“This is a squad with real belief in it. We’ve got some of the best players in the world sitting alongside young men from this region who are hungry to make the Blues jersey their own, and that’s exactly the mix you want.”

“The Blues are a proud club with a big following. Our job is to play a brand of rugby that gets Auckland excited and gives people a reason to back us. That starts with how we train, how we connect, and how we turn up for each other every week.

“There’s a lot of talent in this group. We want to be a team that’s tough up front and brave with the ball, and we’ll be demanding that we get better every week.”

The 2027 Blues squad

PROPS
Ben Ake
Joshua Fusitu’a
Marcel Renata
Mason Tupaea
Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Flyn Yates

HOOKERS
James Mullan
Eli Oudenryn*
Bradley Slater

LOCKS
Josh Beehre
Tristyn Cook
Sam Darry
Jack Lee*
Patrick Tuipulotu

LOOSE FORWARDS
Torian Barnes
Cam Christie
Che Clark
Jed Melvin*
Ardie Savea*
Anton Segner
Malachi Wrampling

HALFBACKS
Finlay Christie
Taufa Funaki
Nic Shearer*

FIRST FIVES
Beauden Barrett
Cam Millar*
Rico Simpson

MIDFIELDERS
Pita Ahki (long-term injury)
James Cameron
Leo Gordon*
Rieko Ioane
Zarn Sullivan
Xavi Taele

OUTSIDE BACKS
Kade Banks
Caleb Clarke
Darby Lancaster*
Payton Spencer
Rory Taylor*
Cody Vai

* Denotes Blues Rookie