Blues Women

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]

Blues Women

Union	New Zealand Rugby
Founded	2021
Location	Auckland, New Zealand
Region	Auckland North Harbour Northland
Coach(es)	Willie Walker
Captain(s)	Aroha Savage
League(s)	Super Rugby Aupiki
Team kit
Official website
www.blues.rugby

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 squad and Coach named

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]

Inaugural season

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]

Current squad

On 21 November 2022, the squad for the 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season was announced. They also had the largest amount of growth with the signing of 12 rookies.^[26][27]

Blues Super Rugby Aupiki squad
Props   Esther Faiaoga-Tilo   Sophie Fisher   Letelemalanuola Lavea   Toka Natua   Cheyenne Tuli-Fale Hookers   Chryss Viliko   Alakoka Po'oi   Grace Gago Locks   Eloise Blackwell   Tafito Lafaele   Maiakawanakaulani Roos   Ma'ama Vaipulu	Loose forwards   Liana Mikaele-Tu'u   Shannon Leota   Joanna Fanene Lolo   Dajian Brown   Charmaine McMenamin Halfbacks (scrum-halves)   Ariana Bayler   Melanie Puckett First five-eighths (fly-halves)   Patricia Maliepo   Ruahei Demant   Krysten Cottrell   Tara Turner	Midfielders (centres)   Sylvia Brunt Outside backs   Kiritapu Demant   Katelyn Vaha'akolo   Jaymie Kolose   Holly Williams Utility Backs   Hayley Hutana
(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 inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki.^[16]

• Head Coach: Willie Walker
• Assistant Coach: Melodie Bosman
• Assistant Coach: James Semple
• Manager: Dean Watkins
• Physio: Georgia Milne
• Campaign Coordinator: Stacey Addenbrooke

Captain

Captain	Period	Refs
Eloise Blackwell	2021	^[28]
Aroha Savage	2022	^[29]^[30]
Ruahei Demant	2023	^[31]

Coach

Blues Women coaches by date, matches and win percentage*

Coach	Period	G	W	D	L	%
Willie Walker	2022–	8	2	1	5	25%
Totals (2022–present)^*		8	2	1	5	25%
Updated to: 25 March 2023

Notes:

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

References

1. "nib BACKING BLUES WOMEN". The Blues. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
2. "Green light for Super Rugby Aupiki". allblacks.com. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
3. "History in the making as Chiefs and Blues women prepare to play at Eden Park". superrugby.co.nz. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
4. "Blues and Chiefs combine for historic first women's clash". allblacks.com (Press release). 29 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
5. "Blues and Chiefs women battle for Waipuea Taonga". The Blues. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
6. "Talent-laden NIB Blues women's squad named". The Blues. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
7. "nib Blues Women'S team excited for historic clash". The Blues (Press release). 29 April 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
8. Burnes, Campbell (1 May 2021). "Chiefs too good in historic Super women's clash". allblacks.com. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
9. "New Zealand Rugby confirms a Four-team women's Super Rugby Aupiki for March 2022". oceania.rugby. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
10. "NZR announces new women's Super Rugby competition". NZ Herald. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
11. Nelson, Trudi. ""This is a no-brainer": New Zealand Rugby launches elite women's competition". www.sen.com.au. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
12. Pearson, Joseph (5 October 2021). "Super Rugby Aupiki: Players will be paid in NZ Rugby's new elite women's competition". Stuff. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
13. Voerman, Andrew (6 May 2021). "New Zealand Rugby commits to launching new elite women's competition in 2022". Stuff. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
14. "Inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki squads announced". superrugby.co.nz. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
15. "Inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki squads announced". NZ Herald. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
16. "Strong coaches line up for Super Rugby Aupiki". Blues Rugby. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
17. "SKY SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI - ROUND ONE UPDATE". Blues Rugby. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
18. "Hurricanes Poua pull out of first round of Super Rugby Aupiki". NZ Sports Wire. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
19. "Covid causes Super Rugby Aupiki opener cancellation". RNZ. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
20. "PREVIEW: Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Round 2". superrugby.co.nz. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
21. "LONG WAIT OVER AS nib BLUES SET FOR SKY SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI DEBUT". Blues Rugby. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
22. Burnes, Campbell (15 March 2022). "Blues full of merit in downing Matatū". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
23. "TEAM NAMING nib BLUES v CHIEFS MANAWA". Blues Rugby. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
24. "Experienced pair return for key clash for nib Blues". superrugby.co.nz. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
25. Burnes, Campbell (20 March 2022). "Chiefs Manawa crowned Sky Super Rugby Aupiki champs". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
26. "Talent aplenty for 2023 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Squads". superrugby.co.nz. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
27. "Movers and shakers of Super Rugby Aupiki". RNZ. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
28. "TALENT-LADEN nib BLUES WOMEN'S SQUAD NAMED". Blues Rugby. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
29. "MOTHER OF TWINS RETURNS TO LEAD nib BLUES". Blues Rugby. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
30. McFadden, Suzanne (3 March 2022). "Captain's twins the Blues' secret weapon". Newsroom. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
31. "SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI TEAM PREVIEWS: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW..." The Black Jersey. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.

External links

• Official website