The Blues rugby franchise is gearing up for a Super Rugby season without All Black lock Patrick Tuipulotu.

The Blues are poised to announce they will play an official Super Rugby match in Samoa this year.

Sonny Bill Williams' Blues debut will come about six weeks into the Super Rugby season, the injured cross-code star predicts.

The Blues have got their man and now just one piece of the 2017 coaching jigsaw remains to be fitted. As expected, North Harbour

Tana Umaga's assistants Paul Feeney and Glenn Moore are leaving the Blues. Feeney, a backs coach, and Moore, in charge of the forwards

Piers Francis, a surprise package for the Blues this season with his consistently high-quality performances in the midfield, is looming

The Blues ended their Super Rugby season by all but ending the Waratahs’ finals hopes with a 34-28 win at Eden Park. Warriors captain Ryan Hoffman has slammed some of his peers as rugby league continues to be embroiled in off-field indiscretions. Valerie Adams has thrown over 20 metres for the first time since 2014 in winning the Diamond League shot put in Monaco.

All the action from the clash between the Blues and the Waratahs from Eden Park.

The Blues season is over just as it is starting to get interesting. Their victory over the Waratahs tonight was their eighth and one of their best this year.

Steven Luatua may have thrust his name before the All Blacks selectors again in the last two Super Rugby rounds.

Steven Luatua may well have thrust his name before the All Blacks selectors again in the last two Super Rugby rounds. The 25-year-old

There is only one match left for the Blues this season, but still plenty to play for.

Matt Duffie takes a leap out of the AFL rules book to make his Super Rugby mark.

There might be a few teams in the top eight relieved that Tana Umaga's rejuvenated Blues won't feature in the playoffs.

The Blues are definitely a better team now than they were and, if they had a bit more time, they could push up the table.

A spectacular start has helped the Blues to a big victory over the Brumbies at Eden Park.

The Blues' playoffs hopes are officially over, but their expectations of two more strong performances are not, so - starting with

The Blues' playoffs hopes are officially over, but their expectations of two more high performances are not.

All the action from the clash between the Hurricanes and Blues from Westpac Stadium.

Umaga concedes it's hard to see the 25-year-old five-eighth moving from the franchise with whom he made his Super Rugby debut in 2011.

Internationals Jerome Kaino, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Male Sa'u return to the Blues line-up for Saturday's Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

Coach John Plumtree is sick of the negative talk around Julian Savea and has dismissed claims that Beauden Barrett is heading to the Blues next year.

The Blues showed no signs of rust on attack as they cruised to a 73-8 victory over the Northland Barbarians at Toll Stadium.

Jimmy Tupou and Alex Hodgman will join the Blues on two-year deals.

They've already enticed one All Black up State Highway 1.

Sonny Blue Williams. That's a tinge his family and the patient franchise supporters have long been championing, writes Wynne Gray.

Watch NZ Herald Focus: Sonny Bill Williams revealed family played a major part in his decision to sign with the Blues over the Chiefs.

Sonny Bill Williams has played for many rugby league and rugby teams. The Blues will be his 14th.