Ioane to wing it in 2018

Blues head coach Tana Umaga has confirmed that Rieko Ioane will play on the wing this season, after Ioane expressed an interest to shift to the midfield, just like Umaga during his playing career.

Ioane has featured in the centres for the Blues in the past but it was his performances on the wing that saw him earn the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Award in 2017.

He may have all the skills to play centre, but Ioan will need to bide his time on the wing.

“Well it's hard to put him at centre when he's the world's best left-winger" Umaga said. 

Umaga had a similar start to his professional career starting off on the wing before shifting into the centres for both club and country and sympathized with the youngster saying

“When you're on the wing, you're always talking to your midfielder to give you the ball if he doesn't. So once he goes into the midfield, and his winger keeps asking the ball, so he'll know what it feels like.”

The Blues are well stocked in the centres ahead of the 2018 Super Rugby season with All Blacks Sonny-Bill Williams and George Moala set to continue their partnership from last season while Micheal Collins, TJ Faine, Matt Johnson, Orbyn Leger and Tamati Tua all capable replacements.