Blues to Face Drua Without Captain

The Blues are going to be without their inspirational captain Patrick Tuipulotu when they host the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua in their Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific opener on Saturday, February 24.

This was after the 43-test All Blacks lock fractured his jaw and will likely be out of rugby for eight to 10 weeks, sidelining him for the first half of the Blues’ Super Rugby campaign.

Tuipulotu suffered the injury during the Blues’ opening pre-season match against Suntory Sungoliath last Saturday. He has returned to New Zealand for surgery.

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua to play Moana Pasifika in the 2024 Super Round in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Fijian Drua

“This is a tough blow for Patrick, especially early on in the season,” said Blues head coach Vern Cotter.

“We accept injuries are part of our game and we’re wishing Patrick a speedy recovery, knowing he’ll still offer plenty to the group from a leadership perspective over the next few weeks. Meanwhile, Chiefs have been convincingly dispatched in their first Super Rugby pre-season outing in Japan, beaten 38-14 by Saitama Wild Knights on Sunday.

Fijian winger Marika Koroibete scored a try for the Wild Knights who fielded top players like Lachlan Boshier, Springboks stars Lodewyk de Jager and Damian de Allande.

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj 

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