String of top names extend contracts with the Blues
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Papali'i joins All Blacks to extend contract at the Blues
Blues and All Black loose forward, Dalton Papalii has announced he will extend his time at the club to at least 2024.
The 24-year-old enjoyed an outstanding 2022 season, leading the Blues to a 15-2 season, where they set new mark for wins, points scored and tries scored in a season.
Papalii said he is excited to have signed for the club until 2024, and looking forward to the future.
“There is nowhere else in this competition that I am going to play. I am a Blues player by birth, by school and by my heart. This year was a massive jump forward. We missed the last step which is gutting, but we have just started this journey and there’s so much more to come.
“And I want to be part of that legacy to this club and this region.”
Blues head coach Leon MacDonald said the organisation was thrilled to have Papalii re-commit to the club.
“Dalton epitomises who we are as players and as people. He is still a very young man, yet he led this team and they love him to bits.
“On the field he is developing into one of the world’s best loose forwards.
“Off it, he does so much in the community, not just with the Blues but with his own programme supporting mental health initiatives.”
Papalii, who won a second U20 World Cup title in 2017, was called into the Blues the next season, making his debut against the Chiefs in April. His mercurial rise continued when later that year he made his All Black debut against Japan at the age of 21 years 23 days.
The 1.93m, 112kg loose forward has played 12 tests, with eight coming in 2021.
Papalii has already played 56 games for the Blues, the second youngest player to reach 50 games, behind Rieko Ioane.
Telea celebrates All Black call-up with contract extension:
Super-exciting winger, Mark Telea, who has joined the All Blacks as a replacement, will extend his time with the Blues and North Harbour.
The 25-year-old from West Auckland is a product of the North Harbour programme, involved in the wider training group at both the Blues and Hurricanes in 2019 before earning his rookie stripes at the Blues in 2020.
Telea was an instant stand-out, starting in all 14 games that season and topping the try-scorers with seven, including three tries against the Waratahs and a crucial diving try against the Bulls in Pretoria.
He moved to Tasman to be part of their championship NPC team in 2020 but has returned to Harbour this season.
Telea is noted for his outstanding aerial skills, elusive running and strong defence, which has been rewarded with his call-up to the All Blacks.
“Mark is one of those players with a very special attacking skillset which is vital in the modern game,” said Blues head coach Leon MacDonald. “He is great in the air, can beat players with his step and has real gas on the outside. But don’t be fooled that it is all natural. He is one of the hardest working players in our squad and everything that comes his way has been hard-earned.”
Telea said he is excited to extend his stay with the Blues until the end of 2023.
“It is a good environment and a great bunch of boys. We work really hard on the training field but we are tight and enjoy eachother’s company off it.
“I am proud to represent the Blues. I’m continuing to learn so much and as a team we have a lot more to come and I want to be part of that.”
In three seasons Telea has amassed 39 caps for the Blues and 15 tries, again making the highlight reels with a spectacular effort against the Rebels at Eden Park this season.
Hoskins Sotutu lengthens contract:
Blues No 8 Hoskins Sotutu, a freakishly gifted athlete, has signed on for a further two years. Today we have confirmed that Sotutu will continue with the Blues and New Zealand Rugby until at least 2024.
Sotutu, who made his debut in 2019, has now played 37 caps for the Blues and made his All Blacks debut against Australia in Wellington in 2020.
His father Waisake Sotutu was an exciting player for Auckland and the Blues and played 12 times for Fiji.
Sotutu found the game while at Sacred Heart College in Auckland after playing baseball, basketball and football, and in his early rugby days, he played in the backs.
The super-skilled Sotutu found a home at No 8, playing for New Zealand Schools in 2016 and New Zealand Under-20s in 2018, as well as the successful Blues team at the Brisbane 10s in the same year.
He made his debut for the Blues against the Crusaders late in the 2019 season and has been a regular at No 8 ever since.
“Hoskins has all the skills and attributes to become one of the game’s best No 8s. He has size, speed and supreme skills,” said Blues Head Coach, Leon MacDonald.
“Hoskins continues to amaze us with his skillset. He is a good young man and a dedicated athlete. The rugby world could be at his feet if he can realise all of his talents.”
Sotutu said: “I just enjoy coming to work every day. There’s a great feeling in the club. We are lucky to have such great coaches and it’s awesome to be part of the Blues family.”
Perofeta celebrates outstanding season with contract extension:
Blues fans will be able to watch new-found favourite, Stephen Perofeta for at least another two years.
The 25-year-old newly-minted All Black has extended his contract with the Blues until at least 2024.
Perofeta was one of the stars of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season for the Blues, voted Players’ Player of the Year and Back of the Year. He was the equal top scorer of the competition with 129 points, and played in 14 games this season, taking his tally to 45 caps since joining the Blues in 2017.
The Whanganui player, who played for his home union while still at school, moved to Taranaki where he has played over 50 games, and will extend his stay for the union alongside fellow Blues players Beauden Barrett, Ricky Riccitelli and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepens.
Perofeta said he is excited to continue at the Blues.
“We are developing into a good team of good mates, but we also know there is a lot more to come yet and I’m keen to be part of it,” said Perofeta. “I have enjoyed this year and loved he relationship with Beauden, both at Taranaki and at the Blues.”
Blues head coach Leon MacDonald said the organisation was delighted that Perofeta will extend his stay with the club.
“Stevie’s development since he came the Blues five years ago has been remarkable, and off the back of an outstanding NPC for Taranaki, he has taken his game to another level, especially forming a unique partnership with Beauden,” said MacDonald.
“We are thrilled to have him on the field for at least two more years, while off it, he is one of the most popular people in our organisation, and a very good person who strongly represents our values.”
Caleb Clarke extends time with the Blues:
Exciting and explosive winger Caleb Clarke has extended his stay with the Blues.
The Blues today confirmed that Clarke will continue with the Blues and New Zealand Rugby until at least 2024.
At just 23, Clarke has now amassed 37 caps after making his debut in 2018 and his debut for the All Blacks against Australia in Wellington in 2020.
His father Eroni is a prominent alumnus, having excelled for Auckland, the Blues and earned 24 caps for the All Blacks.
Clarke, a product of Mt Albert Grammar and the Suburbs club, came through the Blues development programme to make his Super Rugby debut against the Waratahs in 2018. He quickly developed into a super-fast, block-busting winger.
“Caleb possess qualities that are so exciting in the modern young player,” said Blues Head Coach Leon MacDonald. “He is a superb athlete, a trained sprinter who possesses speed and power and outstanding ball-skills. Best of all, he is an outstanding young man, dedicated athlete and good person.”
Clarke is honoured and excited to extend his stay at the Blues. Clarke said: “I would not want to be anywhere else than to be at the Blues. We have a fantastic environment and the boys work so hard together and have a lot of fun at the same time.”
Clarke will also continue his contract with Auckland.
