Sad farewell for Blues stalwarts

 

Neither will play for the Blues again, and their final Super Rugby season has been a tough one, with the Blues finishing down in 14th place.

 

Woodcock is hoping to be fit in time for the All Blacks' clash with Samoa, and told the Sunday Star Times that although his Blues career is over, he will be back at Eden Park to support the team.

 

"I'll definitely be wanting to come and watch the lads play and have a beer and a yarn about the good old days," Woodcock said.

 

The defeat to the Highlanders sealed the Blues' worst-ever season, and Mealamu admitted that it has been a battle.

 

"We're going through a really tough year this year but there have been some really special moments on the field.  

 

"We were looking at the names on the honours board at the guys who have played through this jersey and Woody and I have been lucky enough to play with 95 per cent of them.

 

"It's really gutting we had to finish like this but we had some really special moments together. It'll be a friendship that'll last past this rugby field," he said.

 

However, he remains hopeful that the team will be back on top soon.

 

"It'll still be the team that we've been a part of next year," Mealamu said. "There's been a lot of things this year so hopefully we can turn this around and see a lot of good things in this jersey."

 

Woodcock said that he felt the time was right to retire.

 

"I've been weighing it up for half the season but probably in the last week I came to the decision it was time to pass it on," Woodcock said. "You can only go so far in this jersey and it's time to move on.

 

"I guess I'll be catching up with Kev every second week for a beer and a barbecue. I'll try and stay in reasonable condition but I won't be playing footy."