BLUES: Unwanted All Blacks first five-eighths Stephen Donald will play his Super Rugby for the Blues next season.

Unwanted All Blacks first five-eighths Stephen Donald will make the short trip up State Highway 1 from Hamilton to Auckland for his Super Rugby next season after agreeing to play for the Blues.

It's a move that is sure to polarise Blues fans given the constant scrutiny of Donald's game for both the Chiefs, where he has played all of his Super Rugby for the last seven seasons, and the All Blacks where he has played 22 tests over the last three years

Donald, 27, had been expecting to play for Bath next season and a deal was agreed with the English club. But the move hit a stumbling block when Donald couldn't get a work permit to play in the UK.

Because Donald couldn't qualify to play in Britain through ancestry, he needed to make it in on his playing record.

The British government will give work permits to New Zealand players who've started tests for the All Blacks in the past 18 months.

While Donald has played three tests for the All Blacks over this period, against Australia, Scotland and Wales on last year's end of season tour, they were all appearances made from the bench, so not good enough for him to get his work permit.

His absence from the All Blacks Rugby World Cup training camps and the first squad of the year mean he has no chance of starting a test this year to qualify for Bath's needs.

Donald could have chosen to go to Japan but it's believed he wanted to continue to play rugby at a high level.

The Blues are a good fit for Donald. Pat Lam's franchise is in desperate need of an experienced first five with Stephen Brett and Luke McAlister both heading overseas.

Outstanding young Auckland first five Gareth Anscombe will be at the Blues next year, but it's too much of a gamble to rely on him as the team's first choice No 10 and he'll benefit from spending time as Donald's understudy.

While Donald has his critics at All Blacks level, it's hard to find fault with him as a Super Rugby player. He has been replaced in Hamilton by Aaron Cruden.

Donald has consistently delivered the goods for the Chiefs. Although he didn't do enough over the season to make it back into the All Blacks, he finished the campaign well for Ian Foster's side and had his strongest game, coincidently, against the Blues at Eden Park.

Under the All Blacks coaching regime there is little chance of Donald making it back into a black jersey this year. But all may not be lost for him in that department.

If, as plenty of pundits are suggesting, retired Chiefs coach Foster becomes Steve Hansen's assistant coach for the All Blacks next year, a good season for the Blues could lead to Foster pushing his cause as he has always been a strong supporter of "Beaver's" talents. The Blues have struggled with the No 10 jersey ever since Carlos Spencer left in 2005.