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Blues confirm signing of Hurricanes hooker

By Online Editors
(Photo by Rob Jefferies/Getty Images)

Taranaki hooker Ricky Riccitelli will move north to play his Super Rugby for the Blues from 2022.

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The 26-year-old, who has 71 caps for the Hurricanes under his belt, has signed with the Blues for two years.

Riccitelli, a former New Zealand Under 20s representative, saw limited playing time in the 2021 Super season, with the Hurricanes boasting two current All Black hookers in Dane Coles and Asafo Aumua.

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He will complete the Blues hooking roster with incumbents Kurt Eklund, who played for the Maori All Blacks against Samoa, and last year’s Blues Development Player of the Year, Soane Vikena.

Riccitelli, born in South Africa and brought up in Taranaki, began his representative career at Hawkes Bay after impressing coach Craig Philpott in the New Zealand Under-20s team.

He was elevated to the Hurricanes in 2016 for the injured Coles and has been a regular in the squad ever since.

“I am excited and looking forward to making the move and challenging myself,” said Riccitelli. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to earn some game-time as there are goals that I still want to achieve in New Zealand. I’ll be putting my best foot forward to achieve these and do my best for the club.

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“The facilities at the Blues are impressive, and I am well aligned with Leon (MacDonald) and Tom Coventry and really excited about the challenges ahead.”

Riccitelli said he was indebted to the Hurricanes and grateful for the opportunities at the club, the support of the fans, and the camaraderie with his teammates and coaches.

Blues coach Leon MacDonald said Riccitelli will be an asset to the club.

“We were looking for a quality hooker with experience to bolster our ranks alongside Kurt Eklund and to help the development of Soane Vikena,” said MacDonald.

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“The Blues need depth in what is a critical position. Ricky can do his core job of throwing to lineout and scrummaging well but is also powerful with ball-in-hand and on defence.

“Most of all he is a quality individual who will definitely fit into the Blue Pride ethos we are developing here at our club.”

Riccitelli will move north from Taranaki after the National Provincial Championship.

– Blues Rugby

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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