Blues Women
The Blues Women is a New Zealand professional women's rugby union team based in Auckland, New Zealand that competes in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. They played against a Chiefs women's side in the first-ever women's Super Rugby match in New Zealand in 2021. They won their first Super Rugby Aupiki title in 2024 and won it back-to-back the next season. The Blues also defeated the NSW Waratahs to claim the inaugural Super Rugby Women's Championship final in 2025.
History
Historic clash
On 1 May 2021, the Blues and Chiefs women's teams created history when they played in the first-ever women's Super Rugby match in New Zealand. The Blues hosted the Chiefs women at Eden Park in a double header before the Super Rugby Aotearoa round 10 match between their men's teams. It was to be a one-off match in 2021, but both franchises expressed their commitment to developing a Super Rugby team for women in the future.The teams played for the 'Waipuea Women's Rugby Taonga' trophy. The name was derived from the words Wai and Puea. Eloise Blackwell, who was named the Blues captain for the historic match, unveiled the trophy with captain Patrick Tuipulotu on the Sky Tower.
Willie Walker was appointed to coach the Blues Women's team and named the match day squad on 29 April 2021. The Blues women lost the historic match 12–39.
Super Rugby Aupiki announced
New Zealand Rugby announced on 6 October 2021, that an elite women's competition called Super Rugby Aupiki was confirmed for March 2022. The competition would run for four weeks and the women would be paid for their participation.Inaugural season
The Blues women released a list of player signings along with the other three teams in November 2021. Willie Walker was named as Head Coach, and his assistant coaches were Mel Bosman and James Semple.The Blues Women's opening match was cancelled due to Hurricanes Poua forced withdrawal due to COVID cases and isolation requirements within their squad. The Blues and Hurricanes Poua shared the competition points with the match being called a draw. The Blues finally made their long-awaited Super Rugby Aupiki debut against Matatū, they ran in three tries in their 21–10 victory. The Blues final match was against the Chiefs Manawa, the two sides having last met in the historic clash the year before. The Blues were left scoreless as the Chiefs showed their dominance in the 35–0 outcome.
2024 onwards
Blues Women made a come back from an 18–5 deficit to claim their first Aupiki title at Eden Park. They scored three tries within fifteen minutes to edge Chiefs Manawa 24–18 with Black Fern, Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, scoring the winning try. On 20 November 2024, it was announced that the 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki winners would play the champions of the Australian Super Rugby Women's competition at the end of their respective seasons. The new competition, which is setup similarly to a super cup, is called the Super Rugby Champions Final.The Blues successfully defended their title against Matatū and won their second consecutive championship. On 17 April 2025, the Blues defeated the NSW Waratahs to claim the first-ever Super Rugby Women's Championship final in Auckland.
The Blues ahead of the 2026 Super Rugby Aupiki season are believed to affiliated with the regions of Northland, Auckland and Counties Manukau. North Harbour was affiliated with the Blues but now it is not known if North Harbour is affiliated with any Super Rugby Aupiki club.
Current squad
On 31 October 2024, the squad for the 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season was announced.Current coaches and management
Blues named their coaching group for the 2025 season of Super Rugby Aupiki.Head Coach: Willie WalkerForwards Coach: Charmaine McMenaminBacks Coach: Carlos SpencerCoach
Notes:Official Super Rugby Aupiki competition matches and finals, including the Super Rugby Champions Final.