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Ricky Riccitelli chasing his second Super Rugby title after doing it all in New Zealand rugby

Ricky Riccitelli of the Blues makes a break during the Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final match between the Blues and Fijian Drua at Eden Park, on June 08, 2024, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Ricky Riccitelli is tailor-made for the Blues basic and belligerent approach. The hooker helped the Blues win a dozen regular season Super Rugby Pacific matches with his fisty, diligent and uncomplicated style.

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Veteran coach Vern Corter has installed an edge and honesty to the Blues that was previously absent.

“I didn’t realise how far a straight conversation could go,” Riccitelli told RugbyPass.

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“Vern is the most honest coach I’ve had. All coaches have straight-up conversions, but Vern will call you out in front of everyone. There’s a care, clarity, and accountability about Vern that’s awesome.”

Riccitelli has been around long enough to see through charlatans. In 2015 he was a member of the New Zealand Under 20s that won the World Junior Championships in Argentina.

Riccitelli has played 70 matches for Taranaki winning an NPC Premiership in 2023. This season he became a Super Rugby centurion in the Blues 47-8 win over Moana Pasifika.

In 106 Super Rugby appearances, Riccitelli has scored 18 tries and won 75 games.

His first season at the Hurricanes in 2016 netted a Super Rugby title. He was used mostly as a reserve behind captain and All Blacks legend Dane Coles.

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“I learned so much from Colsey and most of it was away from the field; how to carry yourself, be a leader, a family man, become consistently excellent in what you do,” Riccitelli acclaimed.

“I moved to Auckland in 2022 because it was the right time to move on from the Hurricanes. If you don’t take yourself out of your comfort zone, you don’t evolve. I wanted a new challenge, a fresh start, both on and off the field.”

The Blues won a franchise record 15 consecutive matches in 2022 but appeared to regress in 2023.

“We got rolled in that semi-final against the Crusaders. We’ve always had big potential at the Blues but finding a game plan that suits each individual has been challenging,” Riccitelli admitted.

“This season we’ve gone for a real direct approach. It suits the players we have.

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“The key for us is trusting each other, nailing our week, and going out there excited to do our job.

“It’s not going to be easy to win this thing. It’s a war every week, but if everyone implements their skills, I believe we’ve got the most talented personnel.”

Riccitelli is an integral part of the Blues potent lineout. He’s developed a strong relationship with rival hooker Kurt Eklund, now-injured captain Patrick Tuipulotu and a cohort of industrious young locks.

“Kurt is a good player and we’re mates off the field. We help each other which makes us both better,” he said.

“Paddy is a big leader in our squad. He’s experienced and has a lot of mana. Paddy runs the lineout but when Sam Darry is available, he takes on some of that role.

“The lineout is massive for us. We have a big collective that meets a couple of times a week looking at video and nailing that part of the game.”

Laughlin McWhannell and Josh Beehre are other locks for the Blues that have added real value, who will have to be called upon when the Blues face the Brumbies.

The Blues have won 122 of 175 matches at Eden Park which could still host the final if the Hurricanes lose to the Chiefs and the Blues beat the Brumbies.

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Comments

2 Comments
M
Michael 296 days ago

He's looked better than ever and seems to punch above his weight. Now we need the commentators to get it right….. Ri"chee"telli.

While we're at it “Chip"riani….

T
T-Bone 297 days ago

He’s been a revelation this year under Cotter
Probably fourth in the ABs pecking order but his game has been great
And he’s still only 29 despite having played for 30 years!

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Comments on RugbyPass

I
IkeaBoy 4 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.”

Good lad, just checking. So you’re not a bot! Chelsea bombed the 2008 final more than United won it. John Terry… couldn’t happen to a nicer fella.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made.”

So the difference between 2021 and 2023 would of course be TWO YEARS. 24 months would account for 3 different seasons. They contested ECL finals twice in two years. The first in 2021 - which they lost - was still the first elite European final in the clubs then 141 year history. Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement? Guess what age he was then…


“I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright.”

I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…

Why would I address Eddie Jones? Why would he be deserving of a single sentence?


“I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.”

So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?


“lol u really need to chill out”

Simply frightful! If you’re not a bot you’re at least Gen-Z?

171 Go to comments
f
fl 5 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”

Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.


To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.


I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.


I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.


I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.


“Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”

lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.

171 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 6 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.


His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.


How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.


Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.


His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.


Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.


Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.


Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.

171 Go to comments
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