Maia Roos: Blues star on the start of the 2026 Super Rugby Aupiki season

The Blues have gotten off to a strong start to the 2026 Super Rugby Aupiki season picking up back to back wins.

They edged past the Chiefs Manawa in a thriller in Hamilton last weekend 27-26, however this weekend will be their biggest challenge of the season so far.

They take on Matatu in a grand final rematch at the All In round in Pukekohe and there will be stars all over the park. 

Maia Roos is the captain of the Blues, she joined Adam to discuss.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldegrave from News Talk SEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Let's talk for rugby. Now in a historic weekend for
Super Rugby o pah ky, they are for the first
time tacking a full round of matches to one single
location and pookakoee. The scene for this one gets underway
from five two very evenly evenly poised matches. Actually the
Chiefs munowha Vers Hurricanes Power. That's at five oh five.

(00:33):
Both those teams yet to score or win two rounds
into this competition, so that should be close with a
lot on the line for both those teams to get
their first w. But then well, this matchup's exciting. It's
seven oh five Blues taking on the mutter too. Obviously,
the two unbeaten teams are repeated last year's final, the Blues,
of course, the two time at ragning champions. So let's

(00:54):
preview the game and preview the weekend for women's rugby.
There in Pokacoe. The captain of the very successful Blues
women's team is Maya Cohen. Canoly Ruse shares with us. Now, Maya,
good morning to you. Of course we've got to talk
you're re signing, recommitting to New Zealand Rugby and the
Blues through to the end of twenty twenty nine. Congratulations
on that. How's that made you feel during the week?

Speaker 3 (01:16):
Yeah, you know, the security is something I'm very grateful for,
and security at home, and then two teams that I
have so much love for and who have helped me
grow so much throughout my career. This futh so.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, very healthy, particularly the Blues. That's an environment you've
excelled in. You've fast become such a strong leader of
the team as well. You're obviously a couple of games
into the new season. What does the Blues team mean
for you? Yeah, you've got a few seasons under your belt.

Speaker 3 (01:46):
Oh, Blues is home. I think being in the high
performance space for a few years now, we haven't been
able to really play for our grassroots club and so
this is like the closest we get to playing with
our friends and the girls that we've grown up with
and being able to represent our club, represent our communities
and represent where we come from in our region, and

(02:08):
so I think that's what makes it really special.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Right. How big is this? This weekend Bookakoe is going
to be going pretty crazy for this one, aren't they.
I'm a couple of big games back to back. How
exciting is it to be part of part of this
big weekend there?

Speaker 3 (02:23):
It's going to be massive. We have it's basically all
this hot women's rugby players in one space, under one ticket,
under one roof, and so I think to just get
some support out there will be means to just experience
that game, feel the joy that we play with. And
I guess, yeah, just see where women's sport is heading,

(02:46):
and women's rugby in New Zealand is heading these days.

Speaker 2 (02:49):
So what will you take out of today is to
what you believe as to where it's heading, Like, what
do you want to get out of this weekend on
and off the field?

Speaker 3 (02:55):
On our showcase? The style of rugby that we play,
I think that awful regions have very diverse playing flouds
and they're albionce show. We're physical, we're fast, we're strong,
and we just play with joy. And I hope that
when people come and watch us they feel that, and
I that if you were happy when they watch.

Speaker 2 (03:17):
Us, yeah, absolutely, well, I'm sure your fans were happy
at least that amazing game against the Chiefs last weekend,
the lead was changing all the time. Yeah, how's this
week been kind of just recovering from that one. I'm
sure it was pretty intense.

Speaker 3 (03:31):
Yeah, it was a big game, very physical game. But
this week we just focused on us. We knew that
we needed to reset, regather and just pick up on
a few critical few shopping those up and today when
we get out on the field, it should be coming together.

Speaker 2 (03:50):
The two games into the title defense, have you got
a sense of just how close this competition is going
to be? I mean, you put on some good scores
against the Hurricanes, pole you're on top of them for
a lot of the game and nailed by the last week,
But what are your sort of feeling around how tight
this competition is going to be over the next few weeks.

Speaker 3 (04:07):
Nah, Yeah, it's gonna be tight. I think that that
just shows the growth of our game in our country.
It shows how much that the unions are putting into us.
So there's like a real equal spread of talent across
the country and leaders and players who have their own

(04:30):
unique strengths standing up for their teams. Then it's really
showing on the weekends, and so every game is going
to have to be a muscle and I reckon and how.

Speaker 2 (04:40):
Do you view to night's game? Mat two have also
had a great start to the season. To be under
lights tonight at Poka Coe, I mean, jeez, it's a
it's a thriller for fans. But how you're going to
be preparing yourselves?

Speaker 3 (04:54):
Just play the moment. I think we've just talked about
how much we love to represent our region and the
starde that we play, and so when we get out there,
it'll just be about us and how we can connect
and put onto our best rugby.

Speaker 2 (05:13):
What has made Martha two tough in previous years when
you've played them?

Speaker 3 (05:18):
Oh, I think their attention to detail. They're a very
structured team and they know their role and they do
their role well, and that's what we ask for from
a team and I think that's one of the best
powers is And.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
How do you think it's going to work over the weekend?
You're gonna sort of hang out with all the players
from different teams or does everyone sort of stick to
their own environments. Are you're going to be able to
celebrate the occasion together once I guess everything on the
field's done.

Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah, I hope there's a pretty cool after match for
all of us. That would be fun, but I think
before the game we'll just focus on us, keep it
pretty chill throughout this morning, and then go hid in
the game. Hugs and some miles after.

Speaker 2 (05:59):
Wonderful. Well hope it's a great occasion. All the very
best are carrying on the winning record to start the season,
and congrats on the big resigning as well during the wake.
Thanks for your time here on News Talks EB.

Speaker 3 (06:08):
Thank you so much.

Speaker 1 (06:10):
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