HOSKINS SOTUTU

Position
Loose forward

Blues debut
2019 v Crusaders

Blues caps
60

Blues points
120

Born
12/07/98

Height
192cm

Weight
106kg

Province
Counties Manukau

Hoskins is a Sacred Heart College old boy. The Auckland loose forward represented the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2016 before going to represent the New Zealand Under-20s team in 2018.

Hoskins, the son of former Blues winger, Waisake Sotutu, is an exciting, dynamic player. At just 19 years of age, he was part of the Blues team that won the Brisbane 10s in 2018. He appeared regularly in the successful Mitre 10 Cup campaign for Auckland after making his debut against Counties Manukau.

Hoskins made his debut for the Blues against the Crusaders in Christchurch in Round 15 of the 2019 season.

2020 saw Hoskins establish himself as the one of the premier Number Eights in the country. Gifted with size and speed, Sotutu also showed a deft touch, accurate passing and even a tidy kicking game too. Hoskins was selected in the ‘North’ squad for the ‘North v South’ clash where his performance demanded selection to even higher honours.

Hoskins made his All Blacks debut from the bench in Wellington, before making his starting debut in a Bledisloe Cup winning performance in Sydney two weeks later. Sotutu played five times for the All Blacks in 2020.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Hoskins took his game up another level in 2021. While working hard to place himself among Super Rugby’s best in carries, offloads & tries, he also demonstrated an increasingly physical and confrontational dimension to his breakdown play. This all-round game proved invaluable as the Blues went on to win their first title in 18 years, with Hoskins more often than not involved in each game's decisive moments. 

Through 2022 and 2023 Sotutu was once again a powerhouse for the Blues in their run to the Finals and he continues to warrant All Blacks selection. He was one of the Blues best forwards in their 2023 campaign, his dynamic running and ball skills on full display in the early part of the competition. His versatility was also on show at training, running in the backline as a contingency measure when injury hit the squad.

Hoskins’ dynamic and exciting game is complemented with hard-earned experience. After being overlooked for higher honours in 2023, Hoskins didn’t drop his lip and turned out a Player of the Season effort for Counties Manukau in the Bunnings NPC. He will be pushing hard in 2024, with a point to prove to the national selectors.