Ardie Savea reveals new sabbatical option, ongoing desire to represent Samoa
Ardie Savea’s new four-year contract with New Zealand Rugby means he likely won’t be able to play for Samoa until 2028 at the earliest, but the 59-test All Black has revealed that he’s not shut the door on representing Pasifika sides in the future.
Savea has been championing changes to World Rugby’s regulations which will allow players to switch international allegiances after a stand-down period and has previously spoken of how he would like to represent Samoa at some stage in the future. In a quirk of timing, those changes were finally ratified late in November – on the same day that Savea signed his new four-year deal.
“It was funny, the day I actually put pen to paper, that afternoon the eligibility [changes] came out,” revealed on the newest episode of the Ardie Savea Podcast. “That day before, I came out and said ‘I’d love to play for Samoa one day’. But people get it wrong and twist it. I’ll always say ‘I’d love to play for Samoa one day’ but not ‘for Samoa next year or the year after’.
“One day in my career, if I was still good enough to represent the blue jersey – obviously because it would probably be at the back-end of my career – I’d love to. But if I wasn’t, then it is what it is.”
If Savea were to represent the All Blacks until the end of his current contract, which runs until 2025, he would then have to stand down from test rugby for a further three season and wouldn’t be eligible to take the field for Samoa until 2028. While you wouldn’t rule out Savea playing test rugby when he’s in his mid to late 30s, it would certainly be a challenge for one of the All Blacks’ top players.
In signing his new deal with NZR, Savea had to ensure his family would be well served for the long term, which means living in the country they love and having a good income. As such, staying in NZ was the best option.
“Even if I wanted to leave, I’d have to leave New Zealand and go and play somewhere in France or Japan to earn good money and then have a three-year stand-down from international footy,” Savea said. “If I wanted to play for Samoa right now … I’d miss the World Cup [because of the stand-down]. The risk and reward around that just didn’t add up.
“As much as I’d love to, I’ve got to put food on the table for my family and set up my family, which is the main thing. Moana came into the picture. It’s a small part. It’s not representing Samoa but if I ever got a chance to and the timing was right, I’d still represent the islands and stuff like that.
“[I’m] trying to tell [Pacific Rugby Welfare CEO] Dan [Le’o] to fight for the stand-down to go down to one year, or one-and-a-half years. You never know. In 2027, I’ll be 33. You’ve got the greats like Richie [McCaw], Reado [Kieran Read] playing their peak footy at around 33, 34. If I can keep my body in check and keep my mind in check and play some good footy, you never know. I may not be at my peak yet, who knows? The option’s still not closed.”
Even if Savea doesn’t go on to play for Samoa in the future, the reason he threw his voice behind the campaign to change World Rugby’s eligibility rules was not to benefit himself.
As part of the deal, Savea has only re-signed to the Hurricanes for two years, opening up the possibility for a move to Moana Pasifika in two years' time. #AllBlacks #SuperRugbyPacific #Hurricanes #MoanaPasifikahttps://t.co/HVPTlBrgcf
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 30, 2021
“When I voiced my opinion and was so vocal about it, it wasn’t necessarily for myself to switch straight away,” he said. “I was voicing it because I had the platform and I play for a tier-one nation. I was voicing it because I knew brothers that were playing overseas that only had a few caps for tier-one nations that would love to go play for the islands.
“I was just voicing that, using the platform, because I knew I would get attention from it, and just kind of voiced it for guys like Vaea Fifita and all the boys overseas to be able to go and play [for the Pacific Islands].
“Sometimes you’ve just got to be a businessman and create that kind of attention to create change. I saw something around [someone saying] they were surprised that the All Blacks have allowed someone like [me], who’s a leader, to come and voice that, [saying] ‘usually the All Blacks rein their players in so they stay in check and in line’. For people that believe that, players are changing. People are realising they’re more than an athlete. They’re voicing their opinions, they’re being themselves and they’re showing they can do that and play some good footy.”
If the opportunity to play for Samoa doesn’t come up, there’s also the possibility that Savea could represent new Super Rugby Pacific side Moana Pasifika following the 2023 World Cup, with Savea’s contract with the Hurricanes coming to an end that year.
“I have an out-clause where I can either stay with the Canes, renegotiate with the Canes, or I can decide to go somewhere else, another Super team, if I wanted to,” Savea explained. “The reasoning why is obvious. Obviously, there’s Moana Pasifika that’s in the tournament and you just never know after a World Cup, it might be time to just freshen it up but again, it was just to have it there in the contract so I had that option.
“There’s parts in my contracts too where … in 2024 I’ve got a playing sabbatical where I can go to Japan for that six-month period like what Pere [TJ Perenara] and Baz [Beauden Barrett] did. If I don’t take up that, I can take the whole Super Rugby off in ’24 as just an off-field playing sabbatical, or if I don’t take that, I can just come back later in that Super Rugby year. So those are the little things that you talk to senior players and what they have in their contract and you just kind of put it in there so you have options around that.”
So while Savea’s new contract should see him remain in NZ until 2025, the period beyond 2023 is far from mapped out and there are still plenty of possibilities for the 28-year-old’s future.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments