It might not be a wise idea to be cautiously optimistic about the Blues' chances this year in the wake of a first round defeat, but they did enough for judgement to at least be reserved.

No surprise the Blues came second. Not against the Chiefs who have hovered around the top of the competition for the last few years while the Blues have puttered along in their own slurry.

Live updates of the Super Rugby encounter between the Blues and Chiefs at North Harbour Stadium.

This year we enter the 20th season of the tournament and you have to wonder whether rugby has pushed on and used those opening seasons as a springboard for real progress, writes Wyanne Gray.

Pain has been a constant companion for Blues loose forward Luke Braid for much of the past two seasons.

Justin Marshall, in the first of his twice-weekly columns, casts his eyes over the strengths and weaknesses of the New Zealand franchises.

Hurricanes and All Black halfback TJ Perenara has set the standard for training ground tricks in Super Rugby with an amazing left-footed sideline conversion.

With Minnesota Vikings tight end Rhett Ellison visiting training this week, it's tempting to ponder how some of the Blues' best would handle a job swap.

NZME.'s rugby experts make some bold predictions ahead of the Super Rugby season.

The Bulls may end up being a surprisingly different side in terms of style this year.

Blues captain Jerome Kaino receives his new playing jersey from teenage patient Tyrone Banks at Starship children's hospital.

The Waratahs curbed years of mocking from their interstate rivals when they claimed last season's Super Rugby title.

The consistency that set the Chiefs apart during their title campaigns suddenly disappeared, the two-time defending champions winning their first three games but never enjoying another such streak.

Finished sixth - beaten in playoffs. Devoid of stars and coming off the back of a horror campaign in 2013, the Highlanders were the tournament's big surprise last year.

The four-year coaching reign of Mark Hammett came to an end as he led them to seventh place and they missed the playoffs.

Second, losing to the Waratahs in the Sydney final. Traditionally slow burners, the Crusaders slipped uncomfortably back into a familiar pattern.

There was a time when it seemed certain Hika Elliot's rugby career would end in tears.

We know Keven Mealamu will sit out Super Rugby for a month but the Blues will begin the tournament with an entire All Black front row this weekend.

David Pocock will captain the Brumbies in their Super Rugby season opener against the Queensland Reds tomorrow night, with head coach Stephen Larkham boldly tipping the luckless No 7 to return to the....

Wallabies and Waratahs coach Michael Cheika must be confident Israel Folau will stay in rugby beyond 2015, declaring he is unlikely to experiment much with him at centre until next year.

The people of Albany, a suburb of Auckland's North Shore given over largely to big box retailers and franchise universities, was surprised on Saturday night when a Super Rugby match broke out at North Harbour Stadium.