Rugby: Super 15s gear up for new season

The Blues have changed captains to Jerome Kaino with 10 All Blacks in their squad but most will start the season late. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Each Super 15 squad is back in training and practising their public relations drills for the next season.

The Crusaders have a charity cricket match this weekend to raise money for cystic fibrosis while the Chiefs are helping families in need of support after relatives have been rushed to hospital.

The Blues are planning a five-day training camp and interaction with Northland fans but are shedding another of the crew who complemented John Kirwan's coaching team in the last two seasons.

Graham Henry, Mick Byrne, Wally Rifle, Bryce Anderson and Andy Dalton have eased out of the set-up and now the 1967 Fiat Bambina, driven by the squad member who made the biggest gaffe each week, is being sent packing.

Perhaps there's a reason the Blues are ditching the car with the yellow paint job and blue-flamed bonnet; it was becoming too much of a metaphor for the team.

An advertisement said the franchise was looking for an enthusiast "who will love this little car and bring it back to life".

Twin 10th place finishes for the Blues have been an uninspiring start for Kirwan's squad and his introduction to a head coach role as the franchise has moved to embrace private ownership.

Annual predictions about prospects for teams other than those with proven reliability like the Crusaders, range from the optimistic gloss of staff and devout fans to more uncertain observers.

The Blues have changed captains to Jerome Kaino with 10 All Blacks in their squad but most will start the season late, their schedules influenced by the national selectors.

Former All Black halfback Jimmy Cowan is the biggest new name while Josh Bekhuis and Dan Bowden come into the mix which will get new coaching input from Glenn Moore and David Hill.