Blues Development Squad Named

Blues Development Training Squad named featuring the following North Harbour Players - Greg Pleasants-Tate, Ropate Rinakama, Ray Niuia, Brandon Nansen, Zak Judge, Jordan Manihera, Dillon Wihongi, Nalu Tuigamala, Matt McGahan, Michael Little, Marty Swart.

The Blues have named their 30-man training squad for the 2014 development programme.

Headed by new High Performance Manager Tony Hanks, the team will be coached by Steve Jackson with assistants Paul Feeney and Bevan Cadwallader.

The programme will see the Blues Development team compete in a three match series against their Chiefs counterparts and two matches against the New Zealand Under 20s and the Cook Island international team.

“The programme has been spread out this year across four months which allows us to integrate their development objectives with the players’ provincial union and club rugby programmes,” said Hanks.

“It also presents the possibility of bringing players into the squad who have been performing well at club level.”

Several players have already had a taste of the Blues environment, being involved in the new apprenticeship programme during the pre-season.

“A number of these guys have been exposed to the Blues culture and expectations already, and the Development XV programme provides the players with another opportunity to impress the Blues coaches ,” said Hanks.

The development team features 30 players from across Northland, North Harbour and Auckland, 17 of whom have ITM Cup experience. Nine players have trained with the Blues in the pre-season under the apprenticeship programme. On top of this, four players in the squad are also members of the 2014 New Zealand Under 20 squad.

“We want this programme to be a really valuable experience for both the players and coaches, it’s an opportunity for all of them,” said Hanks.

The squad will assemble for their first training on March 3rd, with a team named for their first match on March 11th.

2014 Blues Development Squad

Greg Pleasants-Tate (North Harbour)

Fraser Armstrong (Auckland)

Ropate Rinakama (North Harbour)

Namatahi Waa (Auckland)

Matt Moulds (Northland)

Gafatasi Su’a (Auckland)

Ray Niuia (North Harbour)

Scott Scrafton (Auckland)

Sean Brookman (Auckland)