The Blues are running an apprenticeship-type scheme where provincial players are being invited into the environment to learn about Super Rugby.
This week, Northland and Mid Northern halfback Tane Takulua spent the week with the Blues.
Northland Rugby Union chief executive officer Jeremy Parkinson explained that Takulua had gone inand got a feel for what it was like to be a Super Rugby player, with the idea of taking that knowledge back to the regions.
The Bayleys Southern Districts club rugby season kicks off in five weeks' time, with a replay of last year's final being a feature of the first round.
The competition will be an 18-round affair, with round robin finishing on July 12. The first round starts on the first weekend of March. This season will again see 2.15pm kick-offs for premier matches, with reserve games at 12.30pm.
Last year Mid Northern claimed the title after a bet between Mid Northern's coach and Tane Takulua came good.
Mid Northern coach Craig Edwards made a bet with Takulua before the game that he couldn't score two tries, leaving the coach with a bet to pay out on and Mid Northern with the winners' trophy.
