Crusaders would be 'stupid' to not try sign Ardie Savea says former club veteran

With Moana Pasifika set to disband after the 2026 season, the next playing destination in New Zealand for Ardie Savea has been a hot topic of conversation.

Savea is currently on sabbatical in Japan with the Kobelco Kobe Steelers, with the Hurricanes and Blues recently reported as having interest in securing Savea’s signature.

Wellington is Savea’s hometown where he played for 11 seasons with the Hurricanes, while Savea is familiar with Auckland from his time with Moana Pasifika.

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However, ex-All Black hooker James Parsons and former Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall have suggested that the 13-time Super Rugby champion Crusaders should chase Savea’s signature for next season.

Currently the Crusaders are using midfield-wing Leicester Fainga’anuku at openside with a host of young players still developing, indicating they have a need for a world class loose forward to join their ranks.

“Could the Crusaders be after Ardie? If you think about this, Leicester moving to seven, is there an opportunity that they feel like it’s something they need in their game?” Parsons suggested on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.

“If he’s up for a conversation around signing, why wouldn’t you? He’s one of the best players in the world,” Bryn Hall said.

“Having Leicester in that position and putting him at seven, you would be crazy not to have a conversation.

“It’s whether Ardie would want to come down to the Crusaders.

“There’s obviously a lot of history and a lot of battles against the Hurricanes and even Moana when he was there, but if you were the Crusaders, you would be stupid not to have a conversation or try and get him down there, especially with what you see in the loose forwards at the moment.”

The Crusaders have debuted New Zealand U20 graduate Johnny Lee this season, who looks like a genuine long-term prospect, while they snared former schoolboy star and All Blacks Sevens rep Oli Mathis from Waikato. Lee is 22 years old while Mathis is just 20.

Should the Crusaders deem either not ready to take more game time, then Savea could solve the Crusaders problems in the No.7 jersey.

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