Blues (Super Rugby)
The Blues ( engl. the Blue; former Auckland Blues called ) are a rugby union team from the New Zealand city of Auckland. The team plays in the international Super Rugby League. It represents the regional associations Northland RFU, North Harbour and Auckland RU RFU, whose catchment area includes the cities next to Auckland 's North Shore and Waitakere and the northernmost part of the North Island. Home games will be played at Eden Park, the largest stadium in the country. The team colors are blue and navy blue.
- 3.1 Super 12
- 3.2 Super 14
- 3.3 Super Rugby
History
Made was the team in 1996 to represent the Auckland region in the then newly formed Super 12 League. The catchment area of the franchise was initially composed differently, since the NZRFU feared that the Blues could due to the many national players in their squad dominate too much. So Northland and North Harbour were first represented by the Chiefs.
In the late 1990s the number of national players dropped for the Blues, so that in 1999 an exchange was carried out at the regional associations represented. The Blues gave Counties Manukau and Thames Valley from the Chiefs and in return received Northland and North Harbour. This resulted in a geographically compact catchment area.
When in 2006 the national championship, the National Provincial Championship, dissolved in its present form and was replaced by the Air New Zealand Cup and the Heartland Championship, the Blues were the only New Zealand Super rugby team, whose member organizations all in the higher-class Air New Zealand Cup were represented.
So far, the Blues have won three times the championship. ( 1996, 1997, 2003).
Players and coaches
Current squad
The squad for the 2012 season:
Pillar
- New Zealand Charlie Faumuina
- New Zealand Tevita Mailau
- New Zealand Pauliasi Manu
- New Zealand Angus Ta'avao
- New Zealand Tony Woodcock
Hooker
- New Zealand Ash Dixon
- New Zealand Tom McCartney
- Keven Mealamu New Zealand (C )
Second - row players
- New Zealand Anthony Boric
- New Zealand Liaki Moli
- New Zealand Filo Paulo
- New Zealand Ali Williams
Winger
- New Zealand Daniel Braid
- New Zealand Luke Braid
- New Zealand Jerome Kaino
- New Zealand Chris Lowrey
- New Zealand Brad Mika
- New Zealand Peter Saili
Scrum half
- Alby Mathewson New Zealand
- Piri Weepu New Zealand
Connector
- New Zealand Lachie Munro
- New Zealand Gareth Anscombe
- New Zealand Michael Hobbs
Indoor Three Quarter
- New Zealand Ma'a Nonu
- New Zealand Benson Stanley
- Isaia Toeava New Zealand
Outer three-quarters
- New Zealand David Raikuna
- New Zealand Rene Ranger
- New Zealand Rudi Wulf
Goalkeeper
- New Zealand George Moala
- New Zealand Sherwin Stowers
Additions in 2012
- Ma'a Nonu ( Hurricanes )
- Piri Weepu - ( Hurricanes )
- Rudi Wulf - (RC Toulon)
Departures in 2012
- John Afoa ( Ulster Rugby)
- Stephen Brett (Toyota Verblitz )
- Luke McAlister ( Stade Toulousain )
- Winston Stanley ( Western Force )
- Joe Rokocoko ( Aviron Bayonnais )
- Jared Payne ( Ulster )
- Chris Smylie ( Hurricanes )
- James King (Melbourne Rebels )
Current coaching staff
- Pat Lam ( head coach )
- Liam Barry ( assistant coach )
- Mike Casey ( Assistant coach )
- Bryce Woodward ( Assistant coach )
Former head coach
- Graham Henry
- Frank Oliver
- David Nucifora
Well-known former players
- Ben Atiga
- Andrew Blowers
- Daniel Braid
- Robin Brooke
- Zinzan Brooke
- Olo Brown
- Adrian Cashmore
- Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Fiji)
- Eroni Clarke
- Justin Collins
- Steve Devine
- Craig Dowd
- Nick Evans
- Sean Fitzpatrick
- Troy Flavell
- Rico Gear
- Jimmy Gopperth
- Doug Howlett
- Michael Jones
- Tasesa Lavea
- Brian Lima ( Samoa)
- Jonah Lomu
- Angus Macdonald
- Mark Mayerhofler
- Luke McAlister
- Kees Meeuws
- Dylan Mika
- Malili Muliaina
- Isa Nacewa (Fiji)
- Caleb Ralph
- Greg Rawlinson
- Charles Riechelmann
- Mark Robinson
- Xavier Rush
- Carlos Spencer
- Lee Stensness
- Saimone Taumoepeau
- Rua Tipoki
- Moses Tuiali'i
- Anthony Tuitavake
- Sam Tuitupou
- Joeli Vidiri
- Brent Ward
- Nick Williams
- Royce Willis
- Derren Witcombe