Charlie Faumuina

Faumuina, 30, is heading to French club Toulouse at the end of the season.

He earnt his 50th test cap in the drawn third test against the British and Irish Lions at the weekend and this weekend's match against the Japanese side the Sunwolves would have been his 100th Super rugby game had he not missed the match against the Queensland Reds in Samoa earlier this season due to tonsillitis.

Former All Black loose forward Steven Luatua will also play his last match for the Blues.

All Black tighthead prop Charlie Faumuina is ready to make his first start of the season in the only change to Tana Umaga's run-on XV to face South Africa's Bulls at QBE Stadium, and it's fair to say they're figuring he will be needed.

"It's huge," said Blues skipper James Parsons before Thursday's training. "He's an All Black for a reason: he's one of the best players in the world, and the one game he did play off the bench (against the Chiefs) you saw how electrifying he can be with the ball in hand. We know what he can do at set piece, so it's exciting for us."

The 30 year old has played 46 times for the All Blacks, including the 2015 World Cup final, and has represented the Blues in Super Rugby since 2009.

RNZ reports he will still compete in next year's Super Rugby competition before heading to the northern hemisphere in time for the French season according to Sky Sports UK.

Faumuina said it was a difficult decision to leave New Zealand but he was excited by the opportunity in Europe.