NEW FACES SET TO SHINE

A former star joins the Blues Women’s coaching group to help guide a high-quality playing squad, including some talented rookies, to potential Aupiki glory.

Blues Women

Coach: Willie Walker

Captain: Ruahei Demant

Home ground: Eden Park, Auckland

Website: www.blues.rugby

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.nz

Contact: PO Box 77012, Mt Albert, Auckland 1350 Phone 09 846 5425

Email: info@blues.rugby

Team TAB odds: $4.00

SKY SPORT ROOFTOP TOURS

FUNCTIONS & EVENTS

STADIUM TOURS

Ruahei Demant

Blues Women Squad

FORWARDS:

Alakoka Po’oi, Charmaine McMenamin, Cheyenne Tuli-Fale, Chryss Viliko, Dajian Brown, Eloise Blackwell, Grace Gago, Joanna Fanene Lolo, Letelemalanuola Lavea, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Maama Vaipulu, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Sophie Fisher, Shannon Leota, Tafito Lafaele.

BACKS:

Ariana Bayler, Holly Williams, Jaymie Kolose, Katelyn Vaha’akolo, Kiritapu Demant, Krysten Cottrell, Melanie Puckett, Patricia Maliepo, Ruahei Demant, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’i (Sylvia) Brunt, Tara Turner.

CAMPAIGN PREVIEW:

One of the Blues’ greatest men’s players hopes to add flair and daring to the attacking might of the Blues Women’s backline. Former All Black Carlos Spencer is the new backs coach for the upcoming Super Rugby Aupiki season.

“When I was playing, I always liked to bring a bit of innovation and ‘out-the-box’ thinking to the table. Now as a coach, I want to encourage and help grow those same traits in our Blues wahine,” he says.

“You’ve seen the rise of women’s rugby and the way the public got right in behind the Black Ferns recently. We’re at an exciting juncture for the sport and I’m really looking forward to getting involved and doing what I can to help grow and support women’s rugby.”

Black Ferns legend Linda Itunu has also joined the coaching group and will take charge of the forwards. She played in four Rugby World Cups, winning the title three times, and has over 15 years’ experience in the black jersey. Blues Women’s head coach Willie Walker is excited with the balance of youth and experience in the squad for the season ahead.

“I’m very excited by the youngsters we have coming in this season. If we can harness their youthful exuberance and align them with our more experienced heads, we’ll have the recipe for a successful season.

“For someone like halfback Ariana Bayler, this season presents a real opportunity to develop her combination with both number eight Liana Mikaele-Tu’u and first-five Ruahei Demant.

While Ariana joins us from down the road (Chiefs Manawa), a key focus for this squad was to invest in players from our Blues region and to ensure we are growing and nurturing the talent from within.

“It’s great to have the likes of Tara Turner from Northland and Holly Williams from North Harbour as examples of this regional growth and development. We all saw the Rugby World Cup and the impact it had on the country. It’s great we have several leaders from that team in our nib Blues set-up for 2023.”

Blues Women have the largest amount of new players out of the four teams with 12 rookies, including 18-year-old Turner who impressed in age-group rugby and is a prodigy from the Tania Dalton Foundation. A key player to watch will be Katelyn Vaha’akolo, who had a starring role for the Kiwi Ferns at the Rugby League World Cup held last year and earlier for Newcastle Knights in the NRL women’s premiership.

She also represented Auckland Storm in 2022.

Walker is excited to have Vaha’akolo as part of his squad for the coming season and says she is definitely a talent to watch out for.

“She’s got great skills and plenty of pace. I’m really looking forward to what Katelyn will bring to the side, both on and off the field. By her own admission she is still learning the intricacies of rugby, so as a coach it’s my job to simplify things for her and let her broad skill-set shine.”

Black Ferns captain and World Rugby Player of the Year

Ruahei Demant is joined by sister Kiritapu Demant, who is set to make her Super Rugby Aupiki debut.

World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year nominee and Black Ferns Rugby World Cup-winning lock Maiakawanakaulani Roos offers talent and experience, alongside fellow Black Ferns loose forward Charmaine McMenamin.

The Blues Women kick-off their campaign with an away match against Matatu - in Dunedin.