Ardie Savea's nearing return to the playing field curtailed

A knee injury in the final stages of the World Cup saw Ardie Savea, one of New Zealand’s best performers from 2019, sidelined for the All Black’s last match of the tournament.

That injury also kept Savea out of the first seven rounds of this year’s Super Rugby season and the World Rugby Player of the Year nominee has now revealed that he was eyeing up a return in early May for his Hurricanes club.

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Speaking on Sky Sports’ The Breakdown, the 26-year-old said “I was planning to be back around then, but I was in no rush. It was feeling good to play, but it all depended on how it felt and if I felt comfortable. It’s a feel thing from now on.”

The Hurricanes were one of four New Zealand sides sitting on a four win, two loss record before the season was called to a halt almost two weeks ago due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Their record is especially impressive given the absence of Beauden Barrett from the side, thanks to his move north to the Blues, as well as Savea’s injury.

With no games likely in the near future, Savea will continue to enjoy an excessively extended pre-season and will train from the confines of his home in Wellington.

“I have gym equipment at home and pretty much all the stuff I do at the moment I can do from home,” Savea said.

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“All the running I can do at the park just behind my house, so I can quickly nip over there and do the conditioning that I have to do.”

Earlier this year, Savea revealed that he was seriously considering taking up a stint in rugby league but that his knee injury had potentially curtailed his plans.

“It sucks that I got this injury because I was low key thinking about it [switching to league] for next year,” Savea told former rugby league international Isaac John on John’s personal podcast.

Super Rugby’s potentially permanent suspension could further complicate a move for Savea, if he’s intent on playing two more full seasons of union for making a code switch.