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Stuart Hogg has been arrested again
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The All Black who reminded Sam Darry 'I’m actually a big guy'
By Adam Julian
Amiable and analytical Sam Darry is chipper ahead of the Blues’ sixth round Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday night.
The brawny, blonde lock missed the entire 2025 Super season after a serious right shoulder injury in a calamitous training ground incident. Still, he added two All Blacks Tests to the six he earned in 2024, after the Blues won the competition for the first time in 21 years that season.
When asked how he hopes to build on his All Blacks career under new head coach Dave Rennie, Darry answered with present assertiveness while hinting at future ambition.
“When you’re an All Black, you’re always on audition. There are so many quality players in New Zealand; nothing is guaranteed. When you’ve got a prior reputation, you’ve got a target on your back. From that perspective, nothing changes,” Darry told RugbyPass.
“I’ve always hung my hat on my aerial prowess and work rate. I’ve grown a lot in contact areas, going from a gangly kid to understanding how to use my size and brawn more.
“We were happy with our win against Moana Pasifika on Sunday. It has quickly become an intense rivalry for us. We love playing them, though not as much as they love beating us.
“We were a bit off the mark in the first half, especially around collisions and discipline. In the second half, we fixed that and got the bonus point for scoring three more tries, which was satisfying.
Darry showed plenty of mongrel in the Blues’ 43-7 win over Moana Pasifika and their 29-13 victory against the Crusaders eight days earlier. He scored a try against Moana and was among the top five in both games for carries, tackles, and lineout catches.
Darry admits it took him time to develop the physical edge needed for international rugby. Why was that a challenge? His mother, Kat Darry, has been the All Blacks’ nutritionist since 2008. She is one of the longest-serving staff members, having been part of 235 Tests, 191 wins, and two Rugby World Cup triumphs in 2011 and 2015.
“It’s nothing to do with Mum,” Darry laughed.
“When I was coming up through Christ’s College and Canterbury age group teams, I played like someone who was athletic and skinny, almost to protect myself. That changed when I joined the Blues in 2021. Luke Romano played a big role in my development. He reminded me that I’m actually a big guy and showed me how to use my size more.”
Romano won four NPC Premierships with Canterbury from 2009 to 2023 and four Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders between 2011 and 2021. He then joined the Blues in 2022, helping the Auckland franchise set a club record of 15 straight wins and reach their first final since 2003. Romano won 28 of his 31 All Blacks Tests and was part of the 2015 Rugby World Cup-winning team, where he contributed more than just playing in the pool wins against Namibia and Tonga. He was responsible for analysing and running opposition lineout plays at training. The All Blacks didn’t lose a single lineout in the finals and led the tournament in lineout steals.
Empowered by the wily Romano, Darry soared, playing 11 games in 2022, seven in 2023 and making nine starts in 11 appearances in the Blues’ 2024 championship-winning season. He was then selected for the All Blacks. His Test debut was off the bench in a 47-5 win against Fiji in San Diego. Then he scored a try and was man of the match in his first All Blacks start against Argentina in Wellington. It was a bittersweet occasion. Though Darry was pleased with his individual display, the All Blacks lost 30-38.
While Darry later featured in All Blacks wins over Argentina (42-10) and Australia (31-28), he lost twice to the Springboks in South Africa.
“Playing the Springboks in South Africa was an incredible experience. The passion of the crowd, the burning lungs from the altitude in the first minute, and the brutality of the Boks – it’s the ultimate challenge for any competitor. I’d love to be part of the tour later this year,” Darry said.
After his shoulder injury in February 2025, Darry had to earn his way back into the All Blacks through the NPC for the October-November UK tour. He did this successfully with Canterbury, helping the Red and Blacks win their first title since 2017 and briefly hold the Ranfurly Shield for the first time since 2020. Darry played nine games and scored five tries in wins over Bay of Plenty (21-7), Manawatu (53-14), Tasman (31-25), and Hawke’s Bay (43-19).
He missed the 36-28 final win against Otago at a sold-out Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch, but still counts Canterbury’s last victory at the soon-to-be-closed venue, built after the February 22, 2011, earthquake, as one of his favourite rugby memories. According to the Rugby Database, Canterbury won 69 of their 85 games at Apollo. The Crusaders have won 99 of 121 Super games there. Both teams won all nine combined finals at the venue.
“I first remember going to Apollo as a kid, then again during university, and later playing there for Canterbury and the Blues. It’s been a big part of my life. I didn’t win there with the Blues, but I have mostly good memories,” Darry said.
“My family lived in West Melton, which was more damaged in the 2010 earthquake than in 2011, even though 2011 was the real tragedy. During the 2025 season with Canterbury, we talked about sending Apollo out on a high note. It might be a makeshift stadium, but it’s been a real rallying point for the community and holds many special memories for the people of Canterbury. Johnny McNicholl, for example, played the first and last seasons there. We really wanted to do it for people like him. The new stadium is a gift to everyone in Christchurch. I can’t wait to play there.”
On the All Blacks tour, Darry helped New Zealand beat Scotland (25-17) in Edinburgh, but they lost to England a week later in London (33-19). That win was England’s 11th in a row. In the recently completed Six Nations, England managed only one win, against last-placed Wales, marking their worst campaign since 1984.
“The Six Nations was top quality. It showed that anyone can beat anyone. Italy won two games where they usually struggle. England played really well at times against France, so I don’t think they’ll be down for long,” Darry said.
“It’s great for players and fans of international rugby to have so much competition. Like in Super Rugby, you have to nail your preparation every week.”
Next up for Darry and the Blues is a clash with the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday. The Blues are in second place on the championship table with 15 points and a 3-2 record. The 2-2 Warathas are in sixth place.
“The Waratahs will be a tough game. Though they have lost their last two, they could have beaten the Reds but for a disallowed try with a few minutes to go. They have exciting backs and big forwards who like to beat you up.”
The Blues are on an 11-game winning streak against the Waratahs, whose last win over the Blues in Sydney was in 2015. The Blues have won 23 of the 31 meetings overall. However, they’ve only won three of their last six games against Australian teams, having won 23 of their previous 24 such matches.
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