Blues 2026
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@hikastags said in Blues 2026:
What shit news about Vern leaving.
We're just continuously losing our best players + coaches to everyone. Can't even retain our bloody social media guy FFS.
Last one out close the door, I expect this will continue across most franchises before and after the WC. Our teams could be looking fairly bare in 2028.
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@Canes4life said in Blues 2026:
@hikastags said in Blues 2026:
What shit news about Vern leaving.
We're just continuously losing our best players + coaches to everyone. Can't even retain our bloody social media guy FFS.
Last one out close the door, I expect this will continue across most franchises before and after the WC. Our teams could be looking fairly bare in 2028.
Unfortunately true.
And especially with the Club World Cup in 2028 - there will be a concerted effort by NH clubs to dry up the NZ stocks as it simultaneously improves their team, and weakens both our clubs AND national team.
Another shit thing about is that the revenue amounts is increasing massively in the URC and Top14. Each year they can afford to buy more and more Super Rugby talent. I'm not sure if Super is increasing revenue.
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@Tim said in Blues 2026:
Internal promotion for next head coach?
No one is making a compelling case. Maybe O'Halloran could be an option.. I'd want to see improvement in his specialist area this year though
They did alright casting the net wide last time around. They came very close to agreeing terms with another highly rated coach before restarting the process and getting Cotter.
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2026:
Wayne Pivac could be an option?
He's already back in Auckland. He's currently director of rugby at Pakuranga
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@george33 said in Blues 2026:
Perhaps Schmidt will end up at the Blues next season.
is he based near the region when in NZ?
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@nostrildamus fairly certain he's based in Taupō?
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@Duluth said in Blues 2026:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2026:
Wayne Pivac could be an option?
He's already back in Auckland. He's currently director of rugby at Pakuranga
Which suggests to me that he could end up with the NPC gig sooner rather than later.
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I’d heard he went for the NPC gig and they landed on Bates lol
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@zedsdeadbaby said in Blues 2026:
I’d heard he went for the NPC gig and they landed on Bates lol
Auckland Rugby (NPC) is a total mess. Needs a clear out
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@zedsdeadbaby said in Blues 2026:
I’d heard he went for the NPC gig and they landed on Bates lol
We've seen enough to know he can't be given the keys to the 09 kingdom.
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Meanwhile, Cotter remains focused on the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific campaign, as they try and repeat that 2024 championship run. He confirmed today that All Blacks Beauden Barrett and Patrick Tuipulotu will be missing from the first few rounds, with Barrett on mandatory rest and scheduled to return in round four against the Crusaders.
Tuipulotu is still recovering from a shoulder injury and is expected back by round six.
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This might be from the same or different interview but Cotter seems to be supporting Joseph or Rennie:
https://www.nine.com.au/sport/rugby/news-2025-all-blacks-coach-vern-cotter-interview-jamie-joseph-dave-rennie-new-zealand-updates-20260127-p5nxdq.html -
@Duluth said in Blues 2026:
They did alright casting the net wide last time around. They came very close to agreeing terms with another highly rated coach before restarting the process and getting Cotter.
From what Liam Napier was saying on Rugby Direct, it sounded like that was Dave Rennie.
He (if not AB coach) and Paul Tito are possibilities.
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/podcasts/rugby-direct/rugby-direct-episode-198/
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@Tim said in Blues 2026:
@Duluth said in Blues 2026:
They did alright casting the net wide last time around. They came very close to agreeing terms with another highly rated coach before restarting the process and getting Cotter.
From what Liam Napier was saying on Rugby Direct, it sounded like that was Dave Rennie.
Yeah he had his assistants lined up too
