this post was submitted on 11 Nov 2024
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Rugby Union

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The NZ based franchises & Moana Pasifika are all announcing their squads for the 2025 season today. On the hour, in NZDT:

  • Hurricanes 10am
  • Crusaders 11am
  • Chiefs 12pm
  • Moana Pasifika 1pm
  • Highlanders 2pm
  • Blues 3pm
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[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Blues Squad for 2025

Props: Angus Ta’avao, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Marcel Renata, Jordan Lay, Joshua Fusitu’a, PJ Sheck, Ben Ake

Hookers: Kurt Eklund, Ricky Riccitelli, James Mullan

Locks: Laghlan McWhannell, Cameron Christie, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Josh Beehre

Loose forwards: Cameron Suafoa, Adrian Choat, Dalton Papali’i, Anton Segner, Hoskins Sotutu, Che Clark

Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Sam Nock, Taufa Funaki

First five-eighths: Stephen Perofeta, Harry Plummer, Beauden Barrett

Midfielders: Xavi Taele, Corey Evans, Meihana Grindlay, Rieko Ioane

Outside backs: Zarn Sullivan, Mark Tele’a, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Payton Spencer, Reon Paul, Cole Forbes

In: Ake, Christie, Clark, Barrett, Taele, Spencer, Paul

Out: Soane Vikena, James Thompson, Akira Ioane, Rob Rush, Lucas Cashmore, Bryce Heem, Kade Banks, Caleb Tangitau

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

Quite a few players leaving the Blues looking for game time, a bit surprised nobody made a play to get either Plummer or Perofeta as they'd be keen on playing more, but then why would you want to leave the champs?

AJ Lam is listed as an outside back here, but I would expect he'll be playing in the midfield with Ioane which would be quite a formidable pair. The big loss for the Blues is obviously Akira Ioane as its hard to see any of the remaining loosies having the sort of impact he did this year, but Vern was able to get the best out of him & Sotutu so maybe he'll get some of these other lads to step up too.

A back 3 of Clarke, Sullivan and Tele'a is very, very good and they've got a good balance of young and experienced. Like the Chiefs on the basis of the squads alone, the Blues look the goods.