13 Jul 2017

Faumuina gets the 99 call

1:01 pm on 13 July 2017

The All Blacks prop Charlie Faumuina will be left stranded on 99 Super rugby matches, after being named in the starting line-up for his last game for the Blues in Tokyo on Saturday night.

Faumuina, 30, is heading to French club Toulouse at the end of the season.

He earnt his 50th test cap in the drawn third test against the British and Irish Lions at the weekend and this weekend's match against the Japanese side the Sunwolves would have been his 100th Super rugby game had he not missed the match against the Queensland Reds in Samoa earlier this season due to tonsilitis.

Charlie Faumuina

Charlie Faumuina Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Former All Black loose forward Steven Luatua will also play his last match for the Blues.

Luatua, who is 26 and has played 75 games for the Blues, is moving to England to play for Bristol under former Blues coach Pat Lam.

Steven Luatua off-loads to Sonny Bill Williams during the Blues' win over the British and Irish Lions.

Steven Luatua off-loads to Sonny Bill Williams during the Blues' win over the British and Irish Lions. Photo: Photosport

All Blacks Jerome Kaino, Faumuina, Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Akira Ioane also return for the Blues.

While New Zealand is rugging-up for a wintry blast this week, the Blues are preparing for temperatures over 30 degrees.

"It is clearly a challenge to come back after a four-week break for a one-off game, as the Sunwolves have had two games in South Africa," coach Tana Umaga said.

"We know the conditions will be tough but we have prepared as well as possible for that.

"We have a number of players who will be in a Blues jersey for the final time and we want to honour them, as well as honour the Sunwolves in our first time in Japan by selecting our best possible team and playing good Blues rugby."

The game also marks the 45th and last in Blues colours for Ihaia West, who moves to the Hurricanes next season.

The Blues had a warm-up match against the Honda club in Suzuka last weekend, with lock Patrick Tuipulotu and first-five Piers Francis both injured in that match and have returned home.