Tag Archives: Blues

Here we look at the New Zealand Conference - where some of the best club sides in world rugby will battle it out for to top the group.

Premiership side Sale Sharks made an ambitious enquiry as to the the availability of All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams – but their hopes were quickly rebuffed. Sportsmail have reported that the English outfit made their interest in Williams known via a third party, but his commitment to playing for New Zealand at the next World Cup in 2019 has …

Japan’s Super Rugby franchise the Sunwolves have had a tough season so far, winning just two of their 15 fixtures over the regular season – scoring 315 points and conceding a mighty 671. The final round of the regular season saw them host the Blues, whose most recent match was the enthralling last-minute win over the British and Irish Lions. Not …

Japanese Super Rugby outfit the Sunwolves rocked the world of rugby with a 48-21 win over New Zealand side the Blues at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo. Soaring temperatures of 42 degrees contributed to an exciting and enthralling match, but initially it looked as if the Blues would walk away with a convincing victory as they raced to …

So the Lions tour came to an end in breathless fashion as the British and Irish selection dug in deep to draw with the All Blacks 15-15 at Eden Park which ended the hosts’ winning streak stretching back to 1994. The draw was clearly a result that the Lions did not want and the tone of Sam Warburton and Maro …

The Lions were beaten 22-16 in Eden Park today, as Warren Gatland’s side are now under pressure to deliver a result against the Crusaders on Saturday. We take a look at the winners and losers from the game. Winners CJ Stander Before the match, Stander had been widely tipped to be the starting 8 for the test games, and he …

Warren Gatland has named his Lions team to take on the Blues on Wednesday, as the touring party are eager to build momentum following a disappointing performance against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians. Here are five talking points from the team announcement. Ken Owens named captain The Welshman has been named captain of the side, as Sam Warburton will not …

Following a disappointing performance against New Zealand Provincial Barbarians in the opening game of their tour, the Lions will be eager to set down a marker on Wednesday against Super Rugby outfit, the Blues. Warren Gatland has named Ken Owens as captain, starting in the front row between Jack McGrath and Dan Cole. England duo Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes …

After twelve rounds of Super Rugby, New Zealand teams dominate the competition with the undefeated Crusaders top of the New Zealand standings on an eleven-match winning streak. If the knockout stages were to be played this weekend, the Crusaders would be joined by the Lions, Stormers and Brumbies as conference winners, whilst three of the four wildcard slots would be …

All Blacks boss Steve Hansen is the luckiest coach in world rugby, with an embarrassment of riches wherever he looks. However, he has a choice to make when it comes to the Lions tour as to whether he uses the tried and tested backline that we all know works well, or whether he justifies his selections based on club form. Here …

All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams, in his first game of XV’s rugby in almost 18 months, caused controversy on Saturday.  Due to his Muslim beliefs, he taped over the Bank of New Zealand logo on his shirt and rolled up his sleeves to block an Investec ad. New Zealand rugby released a statement which explained that: “Sonny Bill Williams …

Blues prop Charlie Faumuina showed composure beyond his considerable frame to score a try against Chiefs on Friday. The 30-year-old All Black was in action with his side and although he ended up on the losing side of the Super Rugby clash, Faumuina produced a moment of magic near the end. Faumuina, a second half replacement for Sione Mafileo, received the …

The building sense of excitement ahead of this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour is not only confined to the home nations. While rugby fans in the northern hemisphere slept in their beds last night, all five of New Zealand’s Super Rugby franchises launched special edition kits ahead of the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour. On first viewing, Adidas …

There has long been a rhetoric inside the sheds of many a rugby club that the guys on your team are your brothers. This is something that New Zealand Super Rugby franchises have seen taken to the next level in recent years with the emergence of many powerful rugby families. What’s more important, however, is the fact that many of …

I know that the Six Nations is what everybody is talking about at the moment, and next in line is discussions around selection for the upcoming Lions tour, but with all of this in mind let’s not forget that Super Rugby is back this week. Last weekend saw the last of the pre-season match-ups, and so while everybody was presumably …

All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen has confirmed that members of his squad will be available for the first two warm up matches of the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand this summer. All Blacks contracted with either the Crusaders or the Blues will be allowed to play for their club sides before Hansen assembles his Test squad …

All Blacks and Hurricanes winger Nehe Milner-Skudder crossed for his first try of the pre-season on Friday during the Canes’ 33-27 win over the Crusaders in Waverly. Otere Black spots a gap. @Nmilnerskudder finishes. Canes 26, @crusadersrugby 27 in Waverley #PreSeason2017 pic.twitter.com/9NsrYawjmx — Hurricanes Rugby (@Hurricanesrugby) February 17, 2017 Milner-Skudder, who was sidelined for almost a year with a dislocated shoulder, …

Bristol Rugby have confirmed the signing of Steven Luatua. The 15-times capped All Black will join Pat Lam at Bristol next season, a club that have been eager to splash their cash ahead of the 2017/18 season. Luatua will certainly add incredible athleticism to their current side, evidenced by the promotional video released in tandem with the announcement. As goes without saying, Bristol …