Former Blues hooker Kurt Eklund retires due to neck injury

Former Blues hooker Kurt Eklund has retired from professional rugby due to ongoing neck injuries. The player had signed a contract to play for the Yokohama Canon Eagles in Japan but was advised that stepping away from the game was in his best interest.

Eklund confirmed his decision in a social media post, stating, “That’s all she wrote. I’ve been battling neck injuries for the past few years and I’ve been told it’s in my best interest to step away from the game, so that’s what I am going to do”. He also remarked, “If you’d told 10-year-old me that I’d be able to achieve all the things I’ve been able to, I would have thought you’d be joking”.

The hooker's career included playing for the Blues, where he helped the team win the 2024 Super Rugby title. He also represented Auckland, Bay of Plenty, and the Māori All Blacks, whom he captained in 2025.

Tributes to Eklund were posted by several figures, including Sam Cane and Ruben Love.

How it developed

• Sun 4 Oct, 2:00pmThe report noted that Eklund was due to move to Japan alongside fellow Blues player Stephen Perofeta.

Where reports differ

• Reports disagree on Eklund's age, with some stating 32 and others stating 34 vs.
• There are conflicting counts for his Blues appearances, reported as 75 or 82.
• Reports differ on his Māori All Blacks appearances, citing seven or nine.

Compiled from reports by Stuff, NZ Herald, RNZ and 1News.