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Blues new 21-year-old first five is franchise legend Adrian Cashmore's nephew
Lucas Cashmore took a big gamble in 2020. He decided to leave Tauranga Boys’ College in Year 12. During the lonely and confusing covid lockdowns, he believed it was more prudent to train for rugby than persevere with school online.
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“Rugby has been my dream for a long time. Getting into the Bay of Plenty academy early would give me a boost, “ Cashmore told RugbyPass.
“We had a covid set up, specific training programs that involved good eating and lots of running. It was difficult not being around teammates but I was lucky I had a few weights, a treadmill, and Dad at home to help me out.”
Lucas is the son of real estate agent and auctioneer Blair Cashmore who played 11 games at halfback for Bay of Plenty between 1998 and 2002. His uncle Adrian Cashmore was an All Blacks fullback. Adrian is the Blues all-time leading points scorer with 641 points. In 1996 and 1997 he was in the Blues teams that won the first two Super Rugby titles.
“It’s pretty ideal having an uncle who was an All Black and Dad. They give me plenty of tips and tricks.
“I started playing rugby when I was four. I had no choice. I was a halfback initially and then I became a first-five at Hamilton Boys’ High School. I went home in 2019 to be closer to friends and family. I enjoyed the free-flowing approach Tauranga had. It suited my game.”
The 2019 Tauranga Boys’ College First XV won the Bay of Plenty championship defeating Rotorua Boys’ High School for the first time since 2013.
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Cashmore’s diligent training saw him debut for Bay of Plenty in the NPC in 2021. He’s made 16 appearances for the Steamers and scored 97 points.
In 2022 he was part of the New Zealand Under 20s who cleaned up the Oceania Championship on the Gold Coast. New Zealand thrashed Fiji (74-5), Argentina (32-9) and Australia (69-12) to capture the title. Cashmore scored 36 points in three matches.
“It was really special to wear a black jersey and be in an environment where everything was run professionally. We gelled straight away. We only had two weeks to get ready for the first game, but there was chemistry straight away,” Cashmore said.
“I was lucky to train with the Blues last year and learn a lot from Stephen Perofeta and Beauden Barrett. The key thing for me is to get my kick, pass, and run right. From there I can grow my game awareness, and play what’s in front of me with confidence.”
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The Blues season concluded dismally in 2023 when they were thumped 52-15 by eventual champions the Crusaders in the semi-final.
The Blues have a new coach Vern Cotter, captain Patrick Tuipulotu, and a drive to recapture the halcyon days of Adrian Cashmore.
“There’s definitely a different edge, a desire to create a winning culture. All the boys have been working hard and are motivated to perform in 2024,” Cashmore said.
The Blues pre-season tour of Japan consists of fixtures against Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath on February 3 and Yokohama Canon Eagles on February 10. They start their Super Rugby regular season campaign against the Fijian Dura in Whangarei on February 24.
Comments on RugbyPass
Finau is not leaving a lot of room for error that’s true, but he committed to 3 out of four tackles when the player had the ball so that’s all legal. (And incredibly entertaining)
5 Go to commentsHow does the size of the ‘bloke being hit’ factor into this? If you’re on the opposing team you are fair game. Is Finau the first person in history to target the first five? It seems like this is a great strategy to interrupt your opponents attack. As far as I’m aware, of the four excellent hits on Aussie first fives this year only one of them was ruled late. So if crying about legal tackles isn’t whingeing, then what is it?
5 Go to commentsThings I want to pay attention to this series. 1) Nothing against the other teams in 6 nations, but apart from Irelands loss to england, I dont feel they got tested, So I think this might be tight. 2) Rassie wants to build depth, and would rather do it before a world cup, but I am sure deep inside, he will be reminded that we have not beaten Ireland in years. 3) Will our new coaches plans be sound abd organised in time for the Ireland series? Remember our warm ups might only see our second or third string players available (When are we going to have one universal calander year?) 4) I see Ireland have moved on from Sexton, but what will Farrels plans be for SA? I am sure he will go for a full strength squad. 5) I think the test for the springboks will be the Durban game, it will be in winter, so not too hot for the Irish,no altitude, and it rains allot, might remind them of home. Loftus, if the springboks play the right game, I feel altitude like with most games before, can cause some challanges. 6) Off topic, but who is both Anxious and excited about what the Abs are coming with? A whole new coaching team and different style of play.
114 Go to commentsMost underrated player in world rugby.
2 Go to commentsHow many fans will travel to Qatar to watch these games ? because if they dont, it will be played in front of a few disinterested unknowledgeable Qataris and then just becomes media ‘content’. Thats what Test rugby will be reduced to.
1 Go to commentsSo as long as the playmaker still has the ball IN his hands, its OK. Otherwise the timing is wrong and he’s a liability. No grey line there. Thats the rule he is advocating ? Got it.
5 Go to commentsWrite them off at your peril
8 Go to commentsJust fantastic that the professional game is finally being taken to the Pacific islands. Not before time. It justifies the mere existence of Moana as a club, hopefully they can start to get some positive results too. Check out the sheer joy of the crowds in Fiji and the buzz that having a home team creates. Tonga always had (has ?) issues with their ground not complying with International rugby standards, which NZ always used as an excuse for many years not bringing the All Blacks over. Hopefully this match is the first of many. Would be great to see some tourism grow on the back of it. I once went to the Cook Islands Sevens in Rarotonga - tiny island nation but man did they turn it on. Tonga and Samoa will too given half a chance.
1 Go to commentsQuite right. Punish the time wasters. Its BS these time delays for non-injuries. The Boks have been using it for years now to slow down opposition and now its a scourge on the game. Put players like DeGroot on the sideline and restart play immediately. Watch how 5-6 min to fix your boots quickly becomes 1-2 minutes. Better still how about some personal professional management and you check the conditions/turf beforehand and get yourself better prepared. It might even help your team.
1 Go to commentsWhat drivel. Rugby as a contact sport should not be further diminished by crying over legal hard tackles. Take on the line? Be ready to take the hit. This is PC nonsense.
5 Go to commentsGregor Paul is going to be proved totally wrong. The Crusaders will get in the top 8 and are capable of winning this comp. The return of magnificent captain and player Scott Barrett on Friday was huge. There are a number of players returning and Ethan Blackadder showed huge progression in only his third game back. Christian Lio-Willie has added a new dimension , these two’s combination with Cullen Grace was fantastic. This builds depth when you have outstanding players like Tom Christie and Dom Gardiner also available. The tight five improved ten fold and this is with Tamaiti Williams and Codie Taylor being back.Others are set to return. Johnny McNicoll on his return home has been a revelation. Paul can dismiss Fridays win by the Crusaders as much as he likes and he will prove very popular in this country in doing so. But he will be proved wrong , Rob Penney and his coaching team will have the last laugh.
8 Go to commentsI haven’t seen or heard to many whinging about Finau quite the opposite. The TMO’s have reviewed each time and taken no action, so if they have now been alerted it’s not from people whinging The player comes flying out of the line and launches himself at the attacker so it is probably ruled as a committed tackle, but at what point does it move to tackling a player without the ball Time will tell
5 Go to commentsThis cracked media record of aligning success or failure on head coaches is remarkable. Using the crusaders past history as an example, a more sensible observation and analysis could be that the recent head coaches had inherited a extremely successful combination of players linked to their traditional historical support of the Canterbury people. That period ended this year when the new coach was introduced to virtually a new team. And in a year where other franchises have grown much stronger than their respective past, it was always an anticipated reality that the coach and his new crusader team were up against it. Therefore, I humbly believe that unlike some commentators present, I laud coach Penny and the team for their efforts to date and I am sure given another term and with Canterbury behind them they will be riding high once more. Strange all this coming from me who lives in Taupo and a one eyed chiefs supporter. Can't wait for all future chiefs and crusader games!
8 Go to commentsGrt bench player..keep him there..
3 Go to commentsA Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
114 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
8 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
8 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
8 Go to comments