Departing Blues head coach optimistic about club’s future depth

Departing Blues head coach Vern Cotter has outlined where he thinks the Super Rugby Pacific franchise is at, after announcing the 2026 season will be his last in the role.

Cotter, who has been announced as the new Queensland Reds head coach for 2027 and 2028, won a Super Rugby Pacific title with the Blues in his first season back in 2024.

The former Fiji head coach moved back to New Zealand to attempt to change the culture and standards of the Blues, to help the franchise get back to winning ways.

Cotter’s original two-year deal was extended at the end of the 2025 season, for one more, but the 64-year-old admitted to media on Auckland on Tuesday that this decision has been brewing for a couple of months.

Throughout his time as head coach, he’s had quality leaders at his disposal with the likes of Patrick Tuipulotu and Dalton Papali’i, but soon enough, it will be time to develop the next crop of players and leaders to lead this franchise.

When asked about the state of the squad and the development of the younger players, the departing head coach said that all clubs plan ahead for when they do lose experienced players, and the Blues are no different.

“Yeah you’re always thinking that every organisation is thinking and planning ahead. You know, these guys are not going to play until they’re 50, they can’t afford to,” Cotter told media in Auckland.

“So how do you combine the experiences within the group and then add players and recruit them? Identifying local talent here, and around the province, has been key. I think there’s some really exciting young players coming through.”

The experienced head coach pinpoints a couple of young talents on their books, including two players who have made the move north from other Super Rugby Pacific franchises.

“Malachi Wrampling came out of the Chiefs, and he’s going to be exciting prospect. Torian Barnes is another one that’s come out of the Crusaders, who we think is great.

“Plus I still don’t think we’ve seen the best of Stephen Perofeta and looking forward to a great season from him, he’s a great leader.”

“We’ve got the experience of Bradley Slater’s coming up from the Chiefs, we’re already happy with what he’s bringing to the team.

“It’s always nice to have these new characters, and you learn from them. The players learn so much from themselves, and that sometimes makes coaching easy, just getting good players around the place.”