Blues

Blues already working towards Super15

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The Blues have already started planning for the 2011 Super 15 by going on a recruitment drive that will hopefully not see them being as severely reduced as they were in 2009 with an inordinate number of injuries.


Blues chief executive Andy Dalton appears to be happy with his coach Pat Lam for now but he still wants to sign new blood. “We appointed Pat on a three-year contract,” Dalton told the NZ Herald.


“It’s a pretty steep learning curve.”But Pat has got a much better handle on what is required and is already better prepared.


“He’s miles ahead and now he knows the environment. He has got a year to consolidate and then a year to start performing and he knows that.”


If performances are to improve, the Blues need some success with their well-publicised recruitment drive and they have not had much success in this department.


Their most obvious need for new blood is at halfback and first five. Dan Carter, Jonny Wilkinson, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden and Juan Martin Hernandez were all approached and all declined.


But Dalton is undeterred by the constant rejection and the Blues will persevere and Dalton says that there are still irons in many fires and that he’s confident that, come the October 16 deadline, the Blues will be able to protect a handy squad of 24 players.


This use of the market is as much about preparing for the expected new landscape of professional rugby as it is trying to assemble a better team for 2010.


When Super 14 becomes Super 15 in 2011, it will also see New Zealand’s franchises allowed to recruit players directly. The days of players signing with a provincial contract to determine their Super Rugby franchise will be gone.


“We are gearing up for 2011,” says Dalton.

 

“We are starting to see more loan-back arrangements and the landscape is going to change dramatically. It is still a bit of an unknown in terms of detail, though.

“In an ideal world we will have a budget and be in control of it. There will be a lot more focus and a lot more resource allocated to player recruitment and retention.


“We will have to have a good view of local players but the big change is that we will all be looking nationwide.”


When 2012 comes around Eden Park will be a 50,000 seater so the Blues have to start their planning now if they are to make full use of their stadium but in the near future tickets will be at a premium.


“Next year we will have a capacity at Eden Park of about 17,000,” says Dalton.


“That means we will only have about 5000 tickets to sell to the public.”

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