The Auckland Blues shirt for the 2013 Super XV competition has just been released, with adidas introducing some unique new design elements to the colourway.
Primarily dark blue, the most obvious feature of the new shirt is the stylized image of the iconic Rangitoto volcano on the front, while the provinces that make up the Blues franchise, Northland, North Harbour and Auckland, are also named on the recognised.
After a season which will forever be noted in the record books as the worst of the franchises’ illustrious history, new coach John Kirwan will be hoping the new jerseys also represent a new direction for the Blues, who have named no less than 17 uncapped Super players in their 2013 squad.
Having recruited nationwide, Kirwan’s young side includes NZ U20 captain Bryn Hall, giant prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi, and two new first five–eighths, Counties Manukau’s Baden Kerr and Chris Noakes.
In addition to some excited home-grown talent, the side also features former Crusaders squad members Brendan O’Connor and Quentin McDonald, and exciting Waikato midfielder Jackon Willison. If the ages of his young charges are anything to go by Kirwan has picked a squad with the future in mind, and it may just be that fans of the Blues are forced to wait a little while longer before Super Rugby success returns to New Zealand’s largest city.
