London Irish have signed Blues first five-eighths Chris Noakes on a two year contract.
Director of rugby Brian Smith told the BBC late last night that Noakes was a prolific goal kicker with a 75 percent average in Super Rugby "and he knows how to get a backline moving". He was also eligible to play for England.
Noakes, 28, returned from a serious neck injury in February to play for the Blues in the season opener.
He has played three games for the Blues this season, scoring 18 points in 185 minutes according to the Herald Rugby Stats Centre.
Noakes is the second Blues number 10 to announce his exit from the side this season after league convert Benji Marshall was granted a release last month.
