Riccitelli stays at Blues

The Blues’ stocks continue to look healthy with dynamic hooker, Ricky Riccitelli signing a twoyear contract extension through to the end of 2025. Riccitelli has played 21 matches for the Blues since shifting north from the Hurricanes in 2022 where he earned 92 Super Rugby caps. He has been a regular in the Blues match day 23 this season, having appeared in all but one game and starting nine times.

■ The dinged up Crusaders have called upon another former All Black as their injury-crisis worsens. Four years after bowing out with a Super Rugby title and heading to Japan to play for the Kubota Spears, midfielder Ryan Crotty is back training with the team in Christchurch this week. The 34-year-old Crusaders centurion played the last of his 151 matches for the franchise in 2019, and is the sixth most capped player in team history.