Blues youngster Zarn Sullivan opens up on rapid rise to Super Rugby stardom
When the Blues run out to face the Hurricanes at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday, it will be a family showdown for two youngsters on both teams.
After being named to start at fullback for the Blues in their first game of the season after last week’s fixture against Moana Pasifika was postponed, Zarn Sullivan is set to come up against older brother Bailyn, who will start at centre for the Hurricanes.
It’s a match-up that Zarn – who, at 21-years-old, is two years younger than Bailyn – has encountered many a time in his brief first-class playing career.
In fact, they went head-to-head in Zarn’s Blues debut against the Chiefs in the final round of last year’s Super Rugby Aoteaora, but that doesn’t make the prospect of doing battle against each other in Super Rugby Pacific tomorrow any less enticing.
“It’s always exciting for our family,” the younger Sullivan sibling exclusively told RugbyPass earlier this week.
“It’s nothing new now. This will probably be our fourth or fifth game against each other. I guess, just for both of us, we just look at each other and just think we’re just another player on the field when we’re opposite each other.”
Eyeing a second straight Super Rugby victory over his brother after getting the job done last year gives Sullivan extra motivation to continue the rich vein of form that made him one of the breakout stars of the 2021 season.
Signed by Blues head coach Leon MacDonald last year, Sullivan went on to make seven successive starts following his debut against the Chiefs, culminating in his side’s Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final win over the Highlanders at Eden Park.
During that run of fixtures, Sullivan announced himself as the first-choice fullback for the Blues as he caught the attention of many through his strong kicking ability and game management skills that exuded a level of maturity far beyond his youth.
It’s for that reason that he has been has been retained in the No 15 jersey as part of an all-star backline that is headlined by All Blacks trio Rieko Ioane, Caleb Clarke and Finlay Christie, as well as notable debutant Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, this weekend.
“I think Zarn was really impressive at the end of last year and his form is building,” Blues assistant coach Tom Coventry told media on Thursday.
“He’s got a wonderful nice big left foot which we use a lot. It makes sense for him to continue to develop in that spot. I don’t think the back coach would say we’re definitely set on it [the fullback spot], but he gets the first shot of the season.”
Sullivan was modest in his assessment of his own abilities, noting to RugbyPass that his kicking “could be a bit better”, his execution “could be more consistent” and he should use his hefty 1.93m, 101kg frame to full effect more often with ball in hand.
However, he hinted that his qualities as a kicker in general play may have played a part in his selection against the Hurricanes.
“Without giving away too much, probably just picking off around their line speed,” Sullivan said when asked where his side can exploit the Hurricanes, indicating that he may look for space in behind their defensive line through his boot.
“We know when they get turned around, we can expose them when they’re not set in defence. That’s all I can give you.”
Those comments should act as a warning sign for the Hurricanes given how potent of a threat Sullivan’s kicking game was throughout Super Rugby Trans-Tasman last year.
It was a key factor in his side’s title-winning success as they ended their 18-year wait for silverware, which Sullivan described as a “surreal” introduction to life in Super Rugby.
“To win it in my first year, new competition, new position for me – probably second year, actually – so it’s probably just being able to settle back in and do better than what I did last year.”
Formerly a first-five while at Napier Boys’ High School and King’s College, Sullivan has found a home for himself at fullback in a Blues backline where openings are hard to come by.
In addition to Ioane, Clarke, Christie and Tuivasa-Sheck, the Blues also boast the presence of All Blacks star Beauden Barrett, who will sit out this week’s match as he continues his return to action following his concussion against Ireland last November.
Barrett didn’t play a part in the Blues’ Trans-Tasman title as he enjoyed a season-long sabbatical in Japan with Suntory Sungoliath, meaning this year is the first chance Sullivan has to play alongside the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year.
It’s also his first opportunity to play with Tuivasa-Sheck after Auckland’s four-month lockdown robbed him of the chance to do so during last year’s NPC, which Auckland had to withdraw from after only two rounds.
Sullivan conceded he was “frustrated” to have missed out on game time at provincial level after starring in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, but he is eager to now take to the field alongside Barrett and Tuivasa-Sheck.
“The first time I met Roger was at NPC. Unfortunately, that kind of went downhill with Covid, but, being outside Rog and Baz [Barrett] at training and stuff, it’s pretty cool, pretty surreal as well.”
Being teammates with stars of that quality has put Sullivan in good stead for further success down the line, as it did in the lead-up to his debut, a match of which he scored in to help steer the Blues to a 39-19 win over their local rivals.
“That Chiefs game, going back to my debut game, Caleb [Clarke] and Rieko [Ioane] gave me a lot of confidence in myself to play how I play and just trust that, whatever happens in that game, I would do well,” Sullivan told RugbyPass.
“The boys gave me confidence during the week, and, when I got out on the field, it all just came together, really.”
Since then, Sullivan has blossomed into one of the brightest prospects in New Zealand, and if he can continue his trajectory, an All Blacks call-up may not be out of the reckoning.
“Always a big goal of being an All Black, being a young fella and still coming up through the ranks, so All Blacks is always a big one,” he said.
“Under that, my three main goals are just to be a better person off and on the field, second one is just be better than last year, and the third one is just trying focus on me and just what I can do and support the team.”
Before then, though, Sullivan has his brother to account for when the Blues begin their Super Rugby Pacific campaign this weekend.
“We’ll have a little laugh, but we know once the opportunity comes, we’ll try and take each other’s heads off,” Zarn joked of squaring off against Bailyn. “Just the brotherly rivalry, eh.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Wow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
1 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
13 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
1 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
1 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
16 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
16 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
4 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to commentsSabbaticals have helped keep NZ’s very best talent in the country on long term deals - this fact has been left out of this article. Much like the articles calling to allow overseas players to be selected, yet can only name one player currently not signed to NZR who would be selected for the ABs. And in the entire history of NZ players leaving to play overseas, literally only 4 or 5 have left in their prime as current ABs. (Piatau, Evans, Hayman, Mo’unga,?) Yes Carter got an injury while playing in France 16 years ago, but he also got a tournament ending injury at the 2011 World Cup while taking mid-week practice kicks at goal. Maybe Jordie gets a season-ending injury while playing in Ireland, maybe he gets one next week against the Brumbies. NZR have many shortcomings, but keeping the very best players in the country and/or available for ABs selection is not one of them. Likewise for workload management - players missing 2 games out of 14 is hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Again let’s use some facts - did it stop the Crusaders winning SR so many times consecutively when during any given week they would be missing 2 of their best players? The whole idea of the sabbatical is to reward your best players who are willing to sign very long term deals with some time to do whatever they want. They are not handed out willy-nilly, and at nowhere near the levels that would somehow devalue Super Rugby. In this particular example JB is locked in with NZR for what will probably (hopefully) be the best years of his career, hard to imagine him not sticking around for a couple more after for a Lions tour and one more world cup. He has the potential to become the most capped AB of all time. A much better outcome than him leaving NZ for a minimum of 3 years at the age of 27, unlikely to ever play for the ABs again, which would be the likely alternative.
3 Go to commentsJake White talks more sense than anything I've read in the last 5 years. Hope someone's listening.
16 Go to comments