Latest news with #Savea
The Mainichi
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Rugby: New Zealand star Savea to rejoin Japan's Kobe Steelers
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- New Zealand loose forward Ardie Savea will rejoin the Kobe Steelers for the 2025-2026 Japan Rugby League One season, the club announced Tuesday. Savea, who was World Rugby's Player of the Year in 2023, played for the Steelers in the 2023-2024 campaign before departing to join New Zealand-based Super Rugby outfit Moana Pasifika. "I can't wait to reconnect with all the staff and players and help the team achieve its goals," Savea said in a statement from the club. The 31-year-old has been capped 94 times by the All Blacks and scored 28 test tries. Kobe finished third in the 2024-2025 League One season via the playoffs after placing fifth in the standings.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
All Black Savea to skip Super Rugby in favour of Japan sabbatical in 2026
All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea will return to the Kobe Steelers club in Japan to take a sabbatical and skip Super Rugby with Moana Pasifika next year New Zealand Rugby (NZR) said on Tuesday. The former World Rugby Player of the Year, who spent the 2024 Japanese season with the Steelers, will be available for test duty until the end of the November internationals and return in time for the 2026 mid-year tests. The news comes as a blow to Moana fans after Savea inspired their team to several notable victories and were on the brink of the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs in his first season at the club this year. "It's hard to leave, even though it's only for one season, but I'll be supporting the team from afar and will stay involved behind the scenes," the 31-year-old said in a statement. "This year at Moana Pasifika was the happiest I've been in my career." The sabbatical system was introduced to enable players to benefit from lucrative deals offered by Northern Hemisphere clubs while still remaining contracted to NZR and therefore available for test rugby. "Sabbaticals are a key component of our contracting model and provide flexibility for our most senior All Blacks to spend some time in a different environment," NZR's Chris Lendrum said. "Ardie is committed to play his rugby in New Zealand through to the end of 2027 and we look forward to his ongoing contribution to our teams and competitions." Moana coach Tana Umaga said Savea, who was the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year this season, would be welcomed back with open arms in 2027. "Ardie obviously goes with our blessing," said the former All Blacks captain. "We will continue to build the momentum of our movement in 2026 and work hard to grow our game so that we will be even better when he gets back to us in 2027."
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
New Zealand star Savea to spend year in Japan after November Tests
All Blacks star back row Ardie Savea will skip Super Rugby with Moana Pasifika next year and take a sabbatical in Japan at the Kobe Steelers club, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has announced. The former World Rugby Player of the Year, who spent the 2024 Japanese season with the Steelers, will be available for test duty until the end of the autumn internationals - including the clash with Ireland in Chicago on 1 November and return in time for the 2026 mid-year tests. The news will come as a blow to Moana fans after Savea inspired the team to several notable victories and the brink of the Super Rugby Pacific play-offs in his first season at the club this year. "It's hard to leave, even though it's only for one season, but I'll be supporting the team from afar and will stay involved behind the scenes," the 31-year-old said in a statement. "This year at Moana Pasifika was the happiest I've been in my career." The sabbatical system was introduced to enable players to benefit from lucrative deals offered by Northern Hemisphere clubs while still remaining contracted to NZR and therefore available for test rugby. Savea's international team-mate Rieko Ioane, a centre, will follow in the footsteps of Jordie Barrett by spending the second half of next season at Leinster. Barrett scored a try in his final game for the Irish province in last Saturday's URC final win over the Bulls. "Sabbaticals are a key component of our contracting model and provide flexibility for our most senior All Blacks to spend some time in a different environment," NZR's Chris Lendrum said. "(Ardie) is committed to play his rugby in New Zealand through to the end of 2027 and we look forward to his ongoing contribution to our teams and competitions." Moana coach Tana Umaga said Savea, who was the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year this season, would be welcomed back with open arms in 2027. "Ardie obviously goes with our blessing," said the former All Blacks captain. "We will continue to build the momentum of our movement in 2026 and work hard to grow our game so that we will be even better when he gets back to us in 2027."
The Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-All Black Savea to skip Super Rugby in favour of Japan sabbatical in 2026
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn Internationals - Ireland v New Zealand - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland - November 8, 2024 New Zealand's Ardie Savea in action REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo (Reuters) -All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea will skip Super Rugby with Moana Pasifika next year and take a sabbatical in Japan at the Kobe Steelers club, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) said on Tuesday. The former World Rugby Player of the Year, who spent the 2024 Japanese season with the Steelers, will be available for test duty until the end of the November internationals and return in time for the 2026 mid-year tests. The news will come as a blow to Moana fans after Savea inspired the team to several notable victories and the brink of the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs in his first season at the club this year. "It's hard to leave, even though it's only for one season, but I'll be supporting the team from afar and will stay involved behind the scenes," the 31-year-old said in a statement. "This year at Moana Pasifika was the happiest I've been in my career." The sabbatical system was introduced to enable players to benefit from lucrative deals offered by Northern Hemisphere clubs while still remaining contracted to NZR and therefore available for test rugby. "Sabbaticals are a key component of our contracting model and provide flexibility for our most senior All Blacks to spend some time in a different environment," NZR's Chris Lendrum said. "(Ardie) is committed to play his rugby in New Zealand through to the end of 2027 and we look forward to his ongoing contribution to our teams and competitions." Moana coach Tana Umaga said Savea, who was the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year this season, would be welcomed back with open arms in 2027. "Ardie obviously goes with our blessing," said the former All Blacks captain. "We will continue to build the momentum of our movement in 2026 and work hard to grow our game so that we will be even better when he gets back to us in 2027." (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Savea to take Japan sabbatical
Moana Pasifika and All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea on the run against the Highlanders in Dunedin this year. Moana Pasifika are set to lose their inspirational leader for next season. Ardie Savea has announced he will skip next year's Super Rugby campaign to take up a sabbatical in Japan. The Moana Pasifika skipper will return 2027 after a one-year stint with the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in 2026. The 31-year-old is exercising a clause included in his contract with New Zealand Rugby when he re-signed last year. "I have so much love for what we started with Moana this year so I'm looking forward to coming back in 2027," Savea said. "It's hard to leave, even though it's only for one season, but I'll be supporting the team from afar and will stay involved behind the scenes. This year at Moana Pasifika was the happiest I've been in my career. "On the other hand, Japan is a special place and I love the culture and the people. It's exciting to return to a club that has given me an opportunity to have beautiful experiences on and off the field." Savea is returning to the Japanese club he played for in 2024 and will still be eligible for All Blacks Tests when he returns midway through 2026. "Ardie obviously goes with our blessing," said Moana Pasifika head coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga. "These sabbaticals are part of the modern game and we have been preparing for this for some time. We will continue to build the momentum of our movement in 2026 and work hard to grow our game so that we will be even better when he gets back to us in 2027." Moana finished just outside the top six in 2025, beating all but one New Zealand franchise. Savea was influential in the side's rise, his effort in the win over the Blues described as the greatest individual performance in Super Rugby history. After announcing the mass departure of 16 players, Moana Pasifika have since signed former All Black Ngani Laumape for next season.
