# Blues Women

The Blues Women's team (known as the nib Blues Women for sponsorship reasons) is a New Zealand professional women's rugby union team based in Auckland, New Zealand that competes in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.

## History
### Historic clash

On 1 May 2021, the Blues and Chiefs women's teams created history when they played in the first-ever women's Super Rugby match in New Zealand. The Blues hosted the Chiefs women at Eden Park in a double header before the Super Rugby Aotearoa round 10 match between their men's teams. It was to be a one-off match in 2021, but both franchises expressed their commitment to developing a Super Rugby team for women in the future.
The teams played for the 'Waipuea Women's Rugby Taonga' trophy. The name was derived from the words Wai (for Waikato, Waitemata water, river and sea) and Puea (for winds that carry korero – a conversation or meeting – over land, mountains and sea). Eloise Blackwell, who was named the Blues captain for the historic match, unveiled the trophy with Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu on the Sky Tower.
Willie Walker was appointed to coach the Blues Women's team and named the match day squad on 29 April 2021. The Blues women lost the historic match 12–39.

### Super Rugby Aupiki announced

New Zealand Rugby announced on 6 October 2021, that an elite women's competition called Super Rugby Aupiki was confirmed for March 2022. The competition would run for four weeks and the women would be paid for their participation.

### Inaugural season

The Blues women released a list of player signings along with the other three teams in November 2021. Willie Walker was named as Head Coach, and his assistant coaches were Mel Bosman and James Semple.
The Blues Women's opening match was cancelled due to Hurricanes Poua forced withdrawal due to COVID cases and isolation requirements within their squad. The Blues and Hurricanes Poua shared the competition points with the match being called a draw. The Blues finally made their long-awaited Super Rugby Aupiki debut against Matatū, they ran in three tries in their 21–10 victory. The Blues final match was against the Chiefs Manawa, the two sides having last met in the historic clash the year before. The Blues were left scoreless as the Chiefs showed their dominance in the 35–0 outcome.

### 2024 season

Blues Women made a come back from an 18–5 deficit to claim their first Aupiki title at Eden Park. They scored three tries within fifteen minutes to edge Chiefs Manawa 24–18 with Black Fern, Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, scoring the winning try.

## Current squad

On 31 October 2024, the squad for the 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season was announced.
Blues Super Rugby Aupiki squad :
| Props Sophie Fisher Aldora Itunu Awhina Tangen-Wainohu Harono Te Iringa Cheyenne Tuli-Fale Chryss Viliko Hookers Oceane Donelley Atlanta Lolohea Locks Eloise Blackwell Maia Roos (c) Ma'ama Mo'onia Vaipulu | Loose forwards Dajian Brown Paris Mataroa Liana Mikaele-Tu′u Elizabith Moimoi Lily Murray-Wihongi Holly Wratt-Groeneweg Halfbacks (scrum-halves) Kahlia Awa First five-eighths (fly-halves) Krysten Cottrell Ruahei Demant Patricia Maliepo Tara Turner | Midfielders (centres) Sylvia Brunt Daynah Nankivell Outside backs Kerri Johnson Jaymie Kolose Danii Mafoe Braxton Sorensen-McGee Katelyn Vaha'akolo Portia Woodman-Wickliffe |
| (cc) Denotes team co-captains, Bold denotes internationally capped, $^{SP}$ denotes a shadow player and $^{ST}$ indicated short-term cover. |||

## Current coaches and management

Blues named their coaching group for the 2025 season of Super Rugby Aupiki.
* Head Coach: Willie Walker
* Forwards Coach: Charmaine McMenamin
* Backs Coach: Carlos Spencer

## Captain

| Captain | Period |
| Eloise Blackwell | 2021 |
| Aroha Savage | 2022 |
| Ruahei Demant | 2023 |
| Maiakawanakaulani Roos | 2024 |
| Ruahei Demant | 2024 |

## Coach

Blues Women coaches by date, matches and win percentage* :
| Coach | Period | G | W | D | L | % |
| Willie Walker | 2022– | 15 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 53.33% |
| Totals (2022–present) | Totals (2022–present) | 15 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 53.33% |
| Updated to: 13 April 2024 |||||||
Notes: