Hurricanes homecoming or Blues switch for Ardie Savea after Moana Pasifika’s exit?
Sunday, 19 April 2026
ANALYSIS: A Hurricanes homecoming or a reunion with Jason Holland at the Blues?
The brutal and concerning demise of Moana Pasifika - unless a saviour can be found - means that Ardie Savea will be on the move again next year.
The All Blacks centurion is currently playing at Kobe in Japan under new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie, but he remains contracted to New Zealand Rugby until the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
That means a return to New Zealand is likely next year, and NZ Rugby will be keen to map out an appropriate workload for the 32-year-old so he peaks at the Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Read more:
Savea has been on the treadmill for the past year. He was talismanic for Moana Pasifika in 2025 - clearly the best player in the competition - but by the end of the All Blacks’ test campaign there were signs that he was running on empty.
Savea has already played 13 times for Kobe in Japan Rugby League One this season, and while that competition is less intense than the New Zealand derbies in Super Rugby Pacific, Savea is still running into huge humans such as Springboks and Kubota Spears hooker Malcolm Marx.
Japan isn’t a holiday for high-profile rugby imports. Those Japanese corporations aren’t charities: they pay their money and want a return.
So, Savea will need to be managed next year and NZ Rugby may feel that the Hurricanes or Blues have the ability to do that.
But from the perspective of potential Super Rugby suitors, Savea is still box office.
He remains one of the few players in New Zealand who can add a few thousand to crowd numbers just by being named to play.
The boost he gave to Moana Pasifika attendances at North Harbour Stadium was obvious, and when he returned to Wellington to face the Hurricanes alongside brother Julian last year he helped the Hurricanes to their biggest attendance of the season.
Savea’s primary appeal is of course on the field but in these straitened economic times Super Rugby clubs also have to think with their commercial hats on.
Similarly, Savea would be a boost for a Blues organisation that is losing No 7 Dalton Papali’i to France next year.
Unless the Blues have already filled that gap on their roster Savea would seem to be a good fit, and he has a pre-existing relationship with incoming coach Holland.
Savea would also be an inspirational presence for young loose forwards such as Malachi Wrampling, Torian Barnes and Che Clark at the Blues, just as Moana Pasifika No 8 Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa grew an arm and a leg alongside Savea last year.
The Blues also have the consistently good Anton Segner, which means they wouldn’t have to flog Savea next year with the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup campaign in mind.
The Hurricanes are also well stocked at No 7 and No 8 with Du’Plessis Kirifi and Peter Lakai on the books.
But loose forward is a high-attrition position and Savea would give coach Clark Laidlaw more options to rotate Kirifi and Lakai, both of whom play the game at 110%.
For the record Laidlaw said this when asked about Savea on Thursday: “It’s way too soon.
“We haven’t thought about it, to be honest. We’re preparing for the Chiefs.
“It probably feels a wee bit insensitive thinking about the players in such a short period of time. There will be a lot of good players up there looking for work around the country.
“I’m sure our head will turn if there’s anyone we think can strengthen our team and I’m sure all the teams are thinking the same over the next couple of weeks.'
Of all of those good players, Savea will be the prize catch.