Blues ditch rugby flop Benji

Benji Marshall's release from his Super Rugby contract with the Blues has been confirmed.

Marshall this week said he would seek a job back in the NRL after the rugby league convert found he was, in his own words, an average rugby union player.

A joint statement from New Zealand Rugby and the Blues said Marshall and coach Sir John Kirwan had "frank and honest" discussions following Friday's 39-20 loss to the Hurricanes.

The pair mutually agreed the best path forward was for Marshall to return to rugby league.

Marshall said while his on-field performance had not lived up to his expectations, he felt he had become a better player and person for the experience.

"I gave rugby a go and it didn't work out. However, I feel like through being at the Blues, I was able to find myself again, find some hunger, get fit and, on top of that and more importantly, I feel like I've become a better person," he said in a statement.

Kirwan said he asked Marshall if he honestly felt rugby was the game for him.

"His response was that he felt like a league player playing rugby union, and that things weren't happening as fast as he would have liked.

"So we both decided it was probably best for him to return to playing league."