Blues player Caleb Clarke during the Blues v Waratahs Super Rugby match. Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand. Saturday 22 April 2023. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
The Blues have named a strong squad for their Super Rugby Pacific opener against the Fijian Drua in Whangerei on Saturday afternoon.
Local boy Josh Beehre will make his Super Rugby debut, starting at lock alongside Sam Darry.
"I went to school at Whangārei Boys and I remember going to a Blues game in Whangārei when I was younger," said the 21-year-old.
"So, for this to come full circle is pretty surreal. Hopefully the locals get down to Semenoff Stadium to watch the boys put on a show this weekend. I want to enjoy every moment of it, you only get to debut once, so I'll be soaking everything up.'
Josh Beehre. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
All Black duo Caleb Clarke and Angus Ta'avao will play their 50th games for the Blues, but the journey for both couldn't have been more different.
For Clarke, it's been the only Super team he's played for since starring for Mt Albert Grammar and representing the New Zealand Under 20s.
The winger has trimmed down over summer, cutting an impressive figure at training.
"It's all part of a plan to simplify my life, just shedding weight so I can roam free as a player. Just play with the shackles off and just have fun really," Clarke said.
The 20-test All Black was pleased to be pipping the career total of Blues games held by his father Eroni.
"My dad played 49 games here so I'm stoked to get one over him."
Meanwhile, Ta'avao is on his second stint at the Blues, in a career that's taken him to the Chiefs and Waratahs over 14 seasons.
Angus Ta'avao. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
"It's cool, this is the club I looked up to when I was younger," Ta'avao said.
"I'm an Auckland boy born and bred and I wanted to play for the Blues as a young kid. My family has put up with a lot for me to be here, I wouldn't be here without them."
Ta'avao packs down with Kurt Eklund and Joshua Fusitu'a in the front row. Anton Segner gets a start at blindside while skipper Dalton Papali'i and Hoskins Sotutu round out the loose forwards.
In the backs, Finlay Christie and Stephen Perofeta unsurprisingly start as the inside backs with Harry Plummer and Rieko Ioane pairing up in the centres.
Clarke links up last year's form Super Rugby wing Mark Tele'a, with Zarn Sullivan getting the nod at fullback.
The Blues v Fijian Drua kicks off at 4:35pm at Semenoff Stadium in Whangārei, with live updates here on RNZ Sport.
Blues:
Joshua Fusitu'a
Kurt Eklund
Angus Ta'avao
Sam Darry
Josh Beehre*
Anton Segner
Dalton Papali'i (c)
Hoskins Sotutu
Finlay Christie
Stephen Perofeta
Caleb Clarke
Harry Plummer
Rieko Ioane
Mark Tele'a
Zarn Sullivan
Replacements:
Ricky Riccitelli
Jordan Lay
Marcel Renata
Laghlan McWhannell*
Adrian Choat
Sam Nock
AJ Lam
Cole Forbes*
*Blues debut
