Captain Kaino for the Blues

 

The 54-Test stalwart Kaino has returned to All Blacks after two seasons and is exactly what John Kirwan wants as a leader.

 

"Jerome brings everything you want in a captain – leadership on the field, leadership off the field. He is also an X-Factor player," Kirwan said.

 

"As a team we want to be resilient and relentless and Jerome is that sort of player."

 

He replaces Luke Braid who will continue to play a key role on and off the field for the Blues.

 

"Luke is coming off injuries but we have been in close communication and this is something he is fully supportive about. Leadership has been good for Luke and he will stay in that role as one of our leadership group."

 

The Blues have been boosted by the signing of former All Black halfback Jimmy Cowan and former Josh Bekhuis.

 

51-Test halfback Cowan, after three years in the English Premiership, and Bekhuis, an enduring lock with 81 Super Rugby caps for the Highlanders over six seasons, are the biggest new names.

 

The pack is further enhanced with the reappearance of Blues and current Bay of Plenty lock Culum Retallick and former New Zealand Schools captain and All Blacks Under-20 loose forward, Joe Edwards, who both missed the majority of the last Super Rugby season with injury.

 

The newcomers along with Cowan in the backs is in-form NPC Cup midfielder Hamish Northcott from Manawatu, while former Blues wider training group inside back Dan Bowden, formerly with the Crusaders and Highlanders, returns to his native Northland after stints in England and Japan.

 

All Blacks Sevens talent, Ben Lam, the big, fast-stepping wing who was in the winning World Sevens and the Commonwealth Games teams, has his chance at the 15-aside game after an injury-plagued 2014 season.

 

The cornerstone of the Blues will be the pack that includes six All Blacks – Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Kaino, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu and Steven Luatua who boast 325 Test caps between them.

 

"I am happy with the balance of the squad between the All Blacks, a group of players who now have experience to understand what Super Rugby demands and some young players that we need to nurture for the future of our team," Kirwan said.

 

"As an organisation we are just a year old and have a much more settled front and back office with a discernible plan from which we can build.

 

"Where possible we've looked inside this Blues area for our players especially for our developing young players.

 

"That said we've got some excellent new signings like Bekhuis, Cowan and Northcott."

 

Blues Squad: Josh Bekhuis, Luke Braid, Joe Edwards, Charlie Faumuina, Blake Gibson, Jerome Kaino, Will Lloyd, Steven Luatua, Keven Mealamu, Matt Moulds, Brendon O'Connor, James Parsons, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Sam Prattley, Culum Retallick, Peter Saili, Angus Ta'avao, Hayden Triggs, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Tony Woodcock, Pita Ahki, Dan Bowden, Jimmy Cowan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Frank Halai, Bryn Hall, Simon Hickey, Ben Lam, Tevita Li, George Moala, Melani Nanai, Hamish Northcott, Charles Piutau, Francis Saili, Matt Vaega, Lolagi Visinia, Ihia West.