The Blues, who were formally known as the Auckland Blues, are one of New Zealand’s representatives in Super Rugby. Although the side haven’t performed well in recent years, the Blues are still one of the most successful teams in the history of the competition.
Read on to learn even more about the Blues. As well as reading an in-depth history of the side, on this page you can also see the team’s latest results and fixtures.
An away trip to Auckland to face the Blues, before returning home to host the league-leading Crusaders seven days later.
The in-form ACT Brumbies have returned from their bye week raring to go and more mentally switched on than they've been all year, Stephen Larkham says.
The Blues, who were formally known as the Auckland Blues, are one of New Zealand’s representatives in Super Rugby. Although the side haven’t performed well in recent years, the Blues are still one of the most successful teams in the history of the competition.
Read on to learn even more about the Blues. As well as reading an in-depth history of the side, on this page you can also see the team’s latest results and fixtures.
Like New Zealand’s other Super Rugby sides, the Blues were formed in 1996 in order to take part in the newly-created Super 12 competition. Known as the Auckland Blues at the time, they were immediately successful and became established as an elite team. In the first three seasons of the competition, the Auckland Blues made it to the tournament’s grand final. Although they were beaten by the Crusaders in 1998, the Auckland Blues won the first two editions of the tournament, beating the Sharks and the Brumbies.
In 2000, the Auckland Blues formally dropped their ‘Auckland’ prefix and simply became known as the Blues. Although they won the tournament once again in 2003, the team has struggled for consistency since. They’ve only reached the semi-final stage of the competition twice more and since the competition was revamped and became Super Rugby in 2011, they’ve regularly finished in the bottom half of the standings.
Adrian Choat Openside Flanker 
Akira Ioane Blindside Flanker 
Angus Ta'avao Prop 
Cameron Suafoa Blindside Flanker 
Dalton Papali'i Flanker 7 
Hoskins Sotutu Number 8 
James Thompson Lock 
Jordan Lay Loosehead Prop 
Josh Beehre Lock 4 
Josh Fusitua Loosehead Prop 
Kurt Eklund Hooker 
Laghlan McWhannell Lock 
Marcel Renata Prop 
Ofa Tu'ungafasi Prop 
Patrick Tuipulotu Lock 
Ricky Riccitelli Hooker 
AJ Lam Wing 
Anton Segner 
Bryce Heem Wing 
Caleb Clarke Left Wing 
Caleb Tangitau Right wing 
Cole Forbes Wing 
Corey Evans Centre 12 
Finlay Christie Scrum Half 
Harry Plummer Fly half 
Kade Banks 
Lucas Cashmore Fullback 
Mark Telea Fullback 
Meihana Grindlay Outside centre 
PJ Sheck Fullback 
Rieko Ioane Wing 
Rob Rush 
Sam Darry 
Sam Nock Scrum half 
Soane Vikena 
Stephen Perofeta Fly half 
Taufa Funaki Scrum Half 
Zarn Sullivan Fullback Over the years, some of world rugby’s greatest stars have played for the Blues. In fact, almost 100 Blues players have been capped internationally by New Zealand. This includes household names such as Sonny Bill Williams, Jonah Lomu and Keven Mealamu.
Today, the Blues squad isn’t as strong as it once was. However, several All Blacks players still regularly play for the Blues, including captain Patrick Tuipulotu, prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi and centre Rieko Ioane.
The Blues 
