Kees was among 90 youngsters whose names were drawn from a ballot in an exercise in which 10 others received jerseys through the BNZ and team Facebook pages.

Cowan, Bekhuis and Woodcock or Naholo, Fekitoa, Aaron Smith, Ash Dixon and Dan Pryor - Wynne Gray wonders, which team got the better deal?

Luke Braid is another concussion casualty for the Blues and will miss Saturday's match against the Highlanders in Dunedin.

At the start of the Super Rugby season, the Blues had a mish-mash of backs while the Highlanders would struggle with forwards. Combine them and they might be handy, writes Wynne Gray.

There is a bit of John Kirwan that is wondering whether there's any point in continuing with this coaching business given that every week the fate of his side lies mostly in the hands of the....

The Blues offered another true grit performance crowned by another gladiator performance from Kaino.

The Sanzar investigation into Waratahs coach Michael Cheika raised some questions. A 'draft report' of the findings provides the answers.

Waratahs and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika entered the refs room and spoke to match official Jaco Peyper at half time of their game against the Blues.

The Australian conference leaders want to inflict further misery on their Blues hosts but plans to assess Jimmy Cowan's halfback credentials are in limbo.

Charles Piutau is still in the All Black frame, but Francis Saili's career has gone mostly downhill.

Francis Saili is heading offshore later this year.

When you're bottom of the pile, you are usually there for some reason. It's no accident you are gazing up at every other team after seven rounds of competition, writes Wynne Gray.

Justin Marshall writes: If the Blues are going to break their drought before it reaches double figures, it has to be this Friday night at Eden Park.

It's become a painful business watching the season play out for the Blues, writes Gregor Paul.

Join us here for tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby showdown between the Chiefs and the Blues from Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.

Herald columnist Justin Marshall identifies the three big match-ups that will determine tonight’s northern derby.

Trace the Blues' fluttering form and you could settle on events in the middle of 1998 as the birth of their professional rugby problems.

In a season full of gloom for the Blues, Josh Bekhuis, a new signing from the Highlanders, is standing out like a fair-haired beacon.

Charles Piutau yesterday spoke publicly for the first time since signing with Irish club Ulster rather than the Blues.

Charles Piutau will be lost to the All Blacks next year, but maybe not the Blues.

Sam Cane's outstanding season is set to enter uncharted territory against the Blues on Saturday night.