Blues Rugby: History, Squad, Eden Park and Super Rugby Titles

The Blues are a professional rugby union team based in Auckland, New Zealand, and one of the five New Zealand franchises in Super Rugby Pacific, the leading club competition in the Southern Hemisphere. Formed in 1996, the side draws its players from the Auckland, North Harbour and Northland provincial unions and plays its home matches at Eden Park. After a long wait, the Blues returned to the top of the competition in 2024, beating the Chiefs 41–10 to claim their first major title in more than two decades. This guide covers the club’s history, honours, home grounds, current squad and the rivalries that shape its season.

History and Championship Titles

The Blues were established by the national union when Super Rugby turned professional in 1996. The franchise made an immediate impact, and its story since has swung between early dominance, a long dry spell and a dramatic modern revival.

The founding years: 1996 and 1997

In its very first season in 1996, the Blues won eight of their 11 round-robin matches (a round robin is the home-and-away phase before the playoffs) and finished second on the table. They beat Northern Transvaal — the side now known as the Bulls — 48–11 in the semi-final, then defeated the Sharks 45–21 in a home final to be crowned champions of what was then the Super 12.

The following year was even stronger. The Blues went through the 1997 regular season undefeated and topped the table. They saw off the Sharks again, 55–36, in the semi-final at Eden Park, then beat the Brumbies 23–7 in the final to secure back-to-back trophies.

The 2003 title and the lean years

The Blues added a third title in 2003, winning the final at Eden Park. A notable later high point came in 2011, when Super Rugby expanded to 15 teams and a conference format. The Blues opened that year by beating the Crusaders 24–22 and put together a seven-match winning run, but a mid-season slump followed. They recovered to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2007, beating the Waratahs 26–13 before losing a semi-final to the Queensland Reds in Brisbane. After that, the franchise endured several disappointing campaigns.

The 2021 Trans-Tasman trophy

In 2021 the Blues won the one-off Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition, beating the Highlanders 23–15 in the final at Eden Park. This was a separate cross-border tournament played during the pandemic-era reshuffle, so it sits apart from the club’s main Super Rugby title count even though it ended an 18-year wait for silverware.

Ending the drought: 2024 champions

The breakthrough came in 2024, the first season under head coach Vern Cotter. The Blues earned a home final and beat the Chiefs 41–10 at Eden Park in heavy rain, scoring five tries, with wing Caleb Clarke claiming a hat-trick. Captain Patrick Tuipulotu was named player of the match after returning from what had looked like a season-ending knee injury. The win ended a 21-year drought and sealed the franchise’s fourth Super Rugby title. The triumph was the headline story of the wider 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.

Recent seasons: 2025 and 2026

The Blues could not defend their crown in 2025. They edged the Chiefs 20–19 in a qualifying final but lost the semi-final 21–14 to the Crusaders in Christchurch, with the Crusaders going on to win the title. In the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season the Blues finished fourth in the regular season before being eliminated in the playoffs, a year in which the Hurricanes took the title with a record 60–5 win over the Chiefs.

Rivalries

The Blues’ fiercest rivalries are with the other New Zealand franchises — the Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders — matches that carry extra edge because of their place in the local derby calendar and their effect on the finals race.

The clash with the Crusaders is one of the competition’s most storied, pitting the Auckland side against the most successful franchise in Super Rugby history; you can read more on how the two compare in our look at the Blues and Crusaders head-to-head. The derby with the Blues and Chiefs is another regular highlight, given the two sides’ geographic closeness and their meeting in the 2024 final.

The Blues and Highlanders also play each season for the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy, contested in regular-season fixtures. It is named in memory of Gordon Hunter, a former player who coached both franchises before his death in 2002.

Home Grounds

The Blues’ home stadium is Eden Park, in the Auckland suburb of Kingsland. It is New Zealand’s largest stadium, with a standard capacity of around 50,000 that can rise towards 60,000 when temporary seating is added for the biggest matches. Eden Park is also the traditional home of the All Blacks and hosts Test cricket in summer.

On occasion the Blues take home games on the road, having used North Harbour Stadium in Albany and Semenoff Stadium (formerly Okara Park) in Whangārei to bring fixtures to their wider catchment across Auckland, North Harbour and Northland.

The 2026 Squad

The Blues named a 38-player squad for the 2026 season, with more than two-thirds of the group developed within the franchise’s own region. The lists below are grouped by the main positional units.

Forwards

Forwards do the heavy contact work — scrums, lineouts and the breakdown. Props anchor the scrum, hookers throw into the lineout, locks provide height and power, and loose forwards link the set piece to open play.

• Props: Ben Ake, Joshua Fusitu’a, Jordan Lay, Marcel Renata, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Flyn Yates
• Hookers: Kurt Eklund, James Mullan, Bradley Slater
• Locks: Josh Beehre, Tristyn Cook, Sam Darry, Laghlan McWhannell, Patrick Tuipulotu
• Loose forwards: Cameron Christie, Che Clark, Dalton Papali’i, Terrell Peita, Anton Segner, Hoskins Sotutu, Malachi Wrampling

Backs

Backs are generally the faster, ball-playing players. The halfback (scrum-half) and first five-eighth (fly-half, the main playmaker) steer the attack, the midfielders break the line, and the outside backs finish moves and field kicks. All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett is among the marquee names in the backline.

• Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Taufa Funaki, Sam Nock
• First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett, Stephen Perofeta, Rico Simpson
• Midfielders: Pita Ahki, James Cameron, Corey Evans, AJ Lam, Xavi Taele
• Outside backs: Kade Banks, Caleb Clarke, Cole Forbes, Payton Spencer, Zarn Sullivan, Codemeru Vai

Coaching and captaincy

The squad is led by head coach Vern Cotter and his assistant coaching team. Patrick Tuipulotu is the club captain, with lock Sam Darry having deputised during Tuipulotu’s recovery from off-season shoulder surgery. Cotter has been reported as moving to Australia’s Queensland Reds from 2027.

Ownership and Organisation

The Blues represent the Auckland, North Harbour and Northland rugby unions. The franchise became a stand-alone organisation in 2013, with the three provincial unions and private investors holding the shares. The ownership and governance arrangements have been reviewed and restructured several times since, including a period in which New Zealand Rugby held a stake while new private investors were sought. For the latest corporate and board details, the club’s official channels remain the most reliable source.

List of Blues Captains

• Zinzan Brooke (1996–1997)
• Michael Jones (1998)
• Robin Brooke (1999–2001)
• Glenn Taylor (2002)
• Xavier Rush (2003–2005)
• Keven Mealamu (2006, 2009–2012)
• Troy Flavell (2007–2008)
• Ali Williams (2013)
• Luke Braid (2014)
• Jerome Kaino (2015–2016)
• James Parsons (2016–2017)
• Augustine Pulu (2018)
• Blake Gibson (2019)
• Patrick Tuipulotu (2019–2021, 2024–present)
• Dalton Papali’i (2022–2023)

For official news, fixtures and squad updates, see the team’s official website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where are the Blues based and where do they play?

The Blues are based in Auckland and play most of their home games at Eden Park. They occasionally host matches at North Harbour Stadium in Albany and Semenoff Stadium in Whangārei, reflecting their catchment across the Auckland, North Harbour and Northland unions.

How many Super Rugby titles have the Blues won?

The Blues have won four Super Rugby titles, in 1996, 1997, 2003 and 2024. They also won the one-off Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition in 2021, which is usually counted separately from the main championship.

Who coaches and captains the Blues?

Vern Cotter is the head coach, having guided the team to the 2024 title in his first season in charge. Patrick Tuipulotu is the club captain, with Sam Darry having led the side during Tuipulotu’s injury absences.

Who are the Blues’ main rivals?

Their main rivals are the other New Zealand franchises: the Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders. The Blues and Highlanders also contest the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy in their regular-season meetings.

When did the Blues last win Super Rugby?

The Blues last won Super Rugby in 2024, beating the Chiefs 41–10 in the final at Eden Park to end a 21-year title drought.