Blues 2022

Daffy Jaffy

Blues draw in simple text -
The Blues draw for 2022 is (Times NZT):

Round 1, Saturday Feb 19: vs Fijian Drua, home (Eden Park, 4.35pm)

Round 2, Sunday Feb 27: vs Highlanders, Away

Round 3, Saturday Mar 5: vs Rebels, Home (Venue TBC)

Round 4, Sunday Mar 13: vs Waratahs, Away

Round 5, Sunday Mar 20: vs Crusaders, Away

Round 6, Sunday Mar 27: vs Hurricanes, home (Eden Park, 3.35pm)

Round 7, Saturday Apr 2: vs Moana Pasifika, home (Eden Park 7.05pm)

Round 8, Saturday April 9: vs Chiefs, away

Round 9: Bye

Round 10, Friday Apr 22: vs Western Force, away

Round 11, Saturday Apr 30: vs Highlanders, home (Eden Park, 7.05pm)

Round 12: Saturday 7 May: vs Chiefs, home (Eden Park, 7.05pm)

Round 13, Saturday 14 May: vs Moana Pasifika, away

Round 14, Friday 20 May: vs Reds, home (Eden Park, 7.05pm)

Round 15, Friday 27 May: vs Brumbies, away.

Daffy Jaffy

If as Chris suggested on the SRP 2022 thread, the All Blacks could be unavailable for the first 4 rounds, our pack will be minus 3 AB props, 3 AB loosies on top of the departed 3 locks and Gibson. We will have a very different forward pack starting the comp next year. If the back up and new forwards don't step up quickly it could be a difficult start to the comp. Lucky our early draw is not as difficult as it could be, but still at risk of poor results if our forwards struggle.
EDIT: - new info - All Blacks likely to play from round one according to Stuff, Yay!

Stargazer

Bryce Heem (2022) and Zarn Sullivan (2024) have extended their contract with the Blues.

https://www.blues.rugby/blues-rugby-news/experienced-and-pathway-prospects-extend

george33

@stargazer great news from those guys especially zarn he has massive future ahead of him probably had other clubs chasing him

Nepia

@george33 said in Blues 2022:

@stargazer great news from those guys especially zarn he has massive future ahead of him probably had other clubs chasing him

Franchises muthafucker. Are you an NZR plant?

Stargazer

@nepia I agree, but all franchises in their comms seem to go the "club" way nowadays. The thinking may be that they expect the word "club" to give fans a biggger sense of belonging than "franchise" (which is more of a business model).

Nepia

@stargazer said in Blues 2022:

@nepia I agree, but all franchises in their comms seem to go the "club" way nowadays. The thinking may be that they expect the word "club" to give fans a biggger sense of belonging than "franchise" (which is more of a business model).

Yeah, I know, but I will fight it everywhere (on the Fern).

Machpants

@nepia said in Blues 2022:

@stargazer said in Blues 2022:

@nepia I agree, but all franchises in their comms seem to go the "club" way nowadays. The thinking may be that they expect the word "club" to give fans a biggger sense of belonging than "franchise" (which is more of a business model).

Yeah, I know, but I will fight it everywhere (on the Fern).

Also he could have had interest from actual clubs up north

Daffy Jaffy

From a Stuff article today -
Blues confirmed signings for 2022: Hooker: Ricky Riccetelli, Kurt Eklund, Soane Vikena. Props: Alex Hodgman, Nepo Laulala, Jordan Lay, Marcel Renata, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi. Locks: Sam Darry, Josh Goodhue. Loose forwards: Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Taine Plumtree, Tom Robinson, Hoskins Sotutu, Anton Segner. Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Sam Nock. First fives: Beauden Barrett, Stephen Perofeta, Harry Plummer. Midfield: Rieko Ioane, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Tanielu Tele’a. Fullback/wing: Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Bryce Heem, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Zarn Sullivan, Mark Telea.

To be added: Two locks (looking like Luke Romano and James Tucker), two loose forwards, a halfback and two midfielders.

Tim

@daffy-jaffy So it's looking like Romano, Tucker, Suafoa, Choat, Funaki, and the two midfielders to go.

Duluth

@tim said in Blues 2022:

So it's looking like Romano, Tucker, Suafoa, Choat, Funaki, and the two midfielders to go.

Probably Tamati Tua as one of the midfielders?

Daffy Jaffy

@tim

@tim said in Blues 2022:

two midfielders to go

Add Evans and Tua. Ladies and gents there is your 2022 Blues squad!

Tim

@duluth Yeah, could be. At least in the wider squad as AB cover anyway.

KiwiMurph

Stuff understands that Whangārei is the favoured venue to host the Rebels clash, though details were still being worked through. If so, it would be the first Blues Super Rugby clash in Northland since 2011.

taniwharugby

@kiwimurph yeah we were meant to get the Jaguares match last year, but someone ate a bat!

Tim

@kiwimurph That would be a fun weekend. Meet up with Fern boys at the game, and spend the next two days at Tutukaka. Take Monday off ...

Duluth

@kiwimurph

Good

No Albany games this year

Okara should always be the second ground. The distance between Eden Park & Albany is not large enough to justify taking a game too

The Silver Fern

Blues 2022