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Blues continue overhaul with new chair appointment

Patrick Tuipulotu makes a break for the Blues. Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Highly respected sports director Don Mackinnon is the new Independent Chair of the Board of the Blues Super Rugby club.

Mr Mackinnon takes over from Tony Carter, who has been in the role since the Blues became a standalone organisation in 2013. Mr Carter, who announced his intention to stand down in the middle of 2018 season, has remained on as the interim Chairman to guide the organisation through the change of shareholding late last year.

“With the new Board in place and working well now is the right time to complete the transition to a new Chairperson” said Mr Carter.

Mr Mackinnon is highly respected in the sports industry, currently a Director of New Zealand Cricket and Chair of its High Performance Committee and also Chairs the Integrity Vetting Panel for International Athletics. He has been a Director of Sport New Zealand, High Performance Sport New Zealand and Netball New Zealand. He was also Chair of Netball New Zealand.

He is a partner at SBM Legal and a specialist in employment law and industrial relations. Mr Mackinnon is a passionate supporter of rugby having previously played and coached in the Auckland and North Harbour regions.

Mr Mackinnon said “I’m honoured and excited to be taking on this role at such an important time in the Club’s development. There’s a real sense that rugby in the Blues Region is starting to head in the right direction and I’m keen to do all I can to assist that progress. There’s a lot of work ahead but it’s an exciting time to come onboard.”

Mackinnon also thanked Mr Carter for his outstanding leadership over the last five years.

The Independent Chair is appointed by the Blues shareholders.

Rugby World Cup City Guides – Oita:

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Nickers 36 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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