Tana Umaga

Tana Umaga wants answers from refs boss

Francis is expected to miss Friday's match against the Chiefs at Eden Park due to concussion after copping an errant swinging arm from Stormers second five-eighth Shaun Treeby on the chin in the 47th minute.

Speaking after the 30-22 loss which probably ends the Blues' playoff hopes, Umaga said the team doctor confirmed Francis was unconscious as a result of the blow. The first-five was taken from the field and replaced by Bryn Gatland.

Blues driven for success

Tana Umaga's men meet their first South African opponents of the Super Rugby season in Albany on Saturday night when they host the Bulls.

At 1-3, with just six competition points in the red-hot New Zealand conference, it's a matchup the under-achieving Auckland outfits are desperate to win.

After starting with a big victory in Melbourne, the Blues have now dropped three straight, to the Chiefs (41-26), Highlanders (16-12) and Crusaders (33-24) to ease back near the foot of the Kiwi group.

When will Sonny Bill Williams return?

Williams is still recovering from surgery on his achilles that he snapped during his campaign with the New Zealand Sevens team at the Rio Olympics.

The 31-year-old was training with the squad today and wants to be back playing by week six of the competition but his coach is keeping his cards close to his chest.

"I think our medical staffs are really mindful of loading too much on him too early.

Tana Umaga's nephew Jacob starring for England and coming on to Eddie Jones' radar

The 18-year-old is making rapid gains in Britain, starring for the England under-20 team and already being talked off as a future test player.

The son of former Samoan player, Mike Umaga, Jacob was born in Britain after his family moved there.

He's a No 10 who can play centre and he's making rapid gains, having also played for England at under-18s and touch rugby. He's now with the Wasps club.

He loves his Polynesian roots but plays down his famous surname.

"A few people put more pressure on me because of the name," Umaga told the Daily Mail.

Tana Umaga heads to Sydney in pursuit of SBW’s signature

The Wellington-based national body is yet to confirm the New Zealand Herald's weekend revelation that Williams will shun the year-to-year contracts he has signed most of his career for a three-season stint with NZR.

But Umaga's moves - including a quick trans-Tasman visit to meet Williams' controversial agent Khoder Nasser, rather gives the game away.

There could be an announcement on Williams' New Zealand future, including which Super Rugby franchise he will play for, as early as tomorrow or Thursday.