Blues Women

Last updated

Blues Women
Union New Zealand Rugby
Founded2021;3 years ago (2021)
Location Auckland, New Zealand
Region Auckland
North Harbour
Northland
Coach(es) Willie Walker
Captain(s) Ruahei Demant & Maiakawanakaulani Roos
League(s) Super Rugby Aupiki
2024 Champions
Kit left arm 2022 Blues Women.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body 2022 Blues Women.png
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Kit right arm 2022 Blues Women.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
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Team kit
Official website
www.blues.rugby

The Blues Women's team (known as the nib Blues Women for sponsorship reasons) [1] is a New Zealand professional women's rugby union team based in Auckland, New Zealand that competes in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. [2]

Contents

History

Historic clash

On 1 May 2021, the Blues and Chiefs women's teams created history when they played in the first-ever women's Super Rugby match in New Zealand. The Blues hosted the Chiefs women at Eden Park in a double header before the Super Rugby Aotearoa round 10 match between their men's teams. [3] It was to be a one-off match in 2021, but both franchises expressed their commitment to developing a Super Rugby team for women in the future. [4]

The teams played for the 'Waipuea Women's Rugby Taonga' trophy. The name was derived from the words Wai (for Waikato, Waitemata water, river and sea) and Puea (for winds that carry korero – a conversation or meeting – over land, mountains and sea). Eloise Blackwell, who was named the Blues captain for the historic match, unveiled the trophy with Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu on the Sky Tower. [5]

Willie Walker was appointed to coach the Blues Women's team and named the match day squad on 29 April 2021. [6] [7] The Blues women lost the historic match 12–39. [8]

Super Rugby Aupiki announced

New Zealand Rugby announced on 6 October 2021, that an elite women's competition called Super Rugby Aupiki was confirmed for March 2022. [9] [10] [11] The competition would run for four weeks and the women would be paid for their participation. [12] [13] [11]

Inaugural season

The Blues women released a list of player signings along with the other three teams in November 2021. [14] [15] Willie Walker was named as Head Coach, and his assistant coaches were Mel Bosman and James Semple. [16]

The Blues Women's opening match was cancelled due to Hurricanes Poua forced withdrawal due to COVID cases and isolation requirements within their squad. The Blues and Hurricanes Poua shared the competition points with the match being called a draw. [17] [18] [19] The Blues finally made their long-awaited Super Rugby Aupiki debut against Matatū, they ran in three tries in their 21–10 victory. [20] [21] [22] The Blues final match was against the Chiefs Manawa, the two sides having last met in the historic clash the year before. The Blues were left scoreless as the Chiefs showed their dominance in the 35–0 outcome. [23] [24] [25]

2024 season

Blues Women made a come back from an 18–5 deficit to claim their first Aupiki title at Eden Park. [26] [27] They scored three tries within fifteen minutes to edge Chiefs Manawa 24–18 with Black Fern, Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, scoring the winning try. [26] [27]

Current squad

On 28 November 2023, the squad for the 2024 Super Rugby Aupiki season was announced. [28] [29]

Blues Super Rugby Aupiki squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Halfbacks (scrum-halves)

First five-eighths (fly-halves)

Midfielders (centres)

Outside backs

(cc) Denotes team co-captains, Bold denotes internationally capped, SP denotes a shadow player and ST indicated short-term cover.

    Current coaches and management

    Blues named their coaching group for the 2024 season of Super Rugby Aupiki.

    Captain

    CaptainPeriodRefs
    Flag of New Zealand.svg Eloise Blackwell 2021 [30]
    Flag of New Zealand.svg Aroha Savage 2022 [31] [32]
    Flag of New Zealand.svg Ruahei Demant 2023 [33]
    Flag of New Zealand.svg Maiakawanakaulani Roos 2024
    Flag of New Zealand.svg Ruahei Demant

    Coach

    Blues Women coaches by date, matches and win percentage*
    CoachPeriodGWDL%
    Flag of New Zealand.svg Willie Walker 2022–1581653.33%
    Totals (2022–present) * 1581653.33%
    Updated to: 13 April 2024

    Notes:

    ^* Official Super Rugby Aupiki competition matches only, including finals.

    Related Research Articles

    Aroha Savage is a rugby union player. She plays for New Zealand and Auckland. She previously played for the Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. She has competed for the Black Ferns at three Rugby World Cup's — 2010, 2014 and 2017.

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    Liana Mikaele-Tu'u is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays for the Black Ferns internationally and was a member of their 2021 Rugby World Cup champion squad. She also plays for Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. She played for Hawke's Bay previously before moving to Auckland.

    Patricia Maliepo is a New Zealand rugby union player. She is a first five-eighth for Auckland and New Zealand.

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