Fans can meet Blues heroes

Matt Moulds, of Northland, will have his first public training session with the Blues in Whangarei next week.

Memo from the Blues management to Northlanders: Come to the Ngunguru Sports' ground on Tuesday if you want to meet your favourite players and watch the team train.

The Super Rugby franchise will stage a training camp in Tutukaka from Monday to Friday next week ahead of a pre-season clash with the Chiefs at Toll Stadium in Whangarei on January 29. It will be the team' s first training camp in Northland.

The Blues will stay at the Ngunguru Sports' Club while involved in general fitness and gym work, weights, rugby-specific skills and team building.

Media manager Ian Hepenstall said fans could watch the team train at Ngunguru Sports' Ground from 10am on Tuesday, followed by an autograph-signing session, a barbecue, and a chance to meet the players from noon to 1pm.

The Blues started their pre-season training at the start of this month and it continues to December 21. The team will return to Auckland next weekend but will be back in Whangarei for the match at Toll Stadium.

Blues coach Sir John Kirwan said his players wanted a pre-season training camp and the team management could not think of a better spot than the Tutukaka Coast.

"We have some really talented Northland players in our squad this season and we know that Northland has a very proud heritage in the game," he said.

It's the first time in three years the Blues have had a pre-season camp. The team will also play a pre-season match against the Hurricanes at North Harbour Stadium on February 6.

Particularly exciting for Northland rugby fans will be the prospect of seeing franchise recruit and Taniwha starting hooker Matt Moulds wearing a Blues jumper on his home track. The Blues squad also includes Dan Bowden from Northland.

The Northland Rugby Union hope Northlanders will arrive in numbers at Toll Stadium for the 7pm kickoff on January 29. Tickets for the match range between $6 and $20 and are available from the NRU office.

This year the Blues played a Northland Barbarians team and the game was considered a success after several local players were given an opportunity to test themselves against their big-city opposites.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs management could not be reached for a comment yesterday on whether the team would hold a public day out in Whangarei.

Centre Sonny Bill Williams is likely to be a big drawcard for Northland fans but it's unclear whether or not he will take the field. The Chiefs have already started their pre-season training.