A small but good crowd showed up on a sunny Friday afternoon and was treated to some running rugby from the two teams, trying to iron out the cobwebs ahead of the new campaign in two weeks.
The Highlanders are stocking up on even more promising young players, with five signings announced ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.
In-form playmaker Cameron Millar will miss the Highlanders’ final regular season match at home when they take on the Fijian Drua.
For the Blues game, they've selected their strongest available 23 and again named All Balck Ethan de Groot as captain.
The very first game of 2024's Super Rugby Pacific pre-season kicks off in Queenstown on Friday (6pm NZT) with a match between the Highlanders and Moana Pasifika.
The Highlanders had by far the most turbulent offseason out of the New Zealand Super Rugby Pacific clubs, losing 16 players in 2023.
The Highlanders have only made one change to their starting side ahead of their must-win clash against the Blues at Eden Park on Friday.
One-test All Blacks star Josh Ioane will sit out Otago's Mitre 10 Cup clash against Northland on Friday after breaching team protocol.
Inspirational Tonga loose forward and former Highlanders co-captain Nasi Manu is returning to New Zealand rugby after five years abroad.