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'Its been an absolute pleasure': Julian Savea departs Hurricanes for new Super club
Julian Savea’s legendary Hurricanes career has come to an end, with the club’s leading try scorer announcing on Instagram he will sign elsewhere for the 2024 season.
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Savea leaves the Wellington club as the joint record holder for most tries in Super Rugby history with 60 in 152 appearances.
Once touted as the next Jonah Lomu, ‘the bus’ has played 54 tests for the All Blacks with 46 tries in the black jersey, making him one of New Zealand’s all-time greatest finishers.
Savea signed off from his home club with an emotional written farewell.
”It’s been an absolute pleasure to represent this club and my home team over the past 11 years and I’m grateful for the brotherhood I formed over the years, the memories I have made, the knowledge I have learnt and milestones I’ve achieved at the Hurricanes,” Savea wrote on Instagram.
“I know the legacy I have created here for myself is something I am very proud of and will cherish for the rest of my life. Not the departure I had planned or hoped for, but that’s rugby for you and sometimes it’s brutal.
“I have loved every minute even through the ups and downs and I’m truely grateful for the constant support from my family, friends and the fans. But I’m not finished yet…..”
View this post on Instagram
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The 33-year-old’s strike rate isn’t what it once was but three tries in his 2023 campaign were reward for some strong play. He signed off his post with the quote: “When one door closes, another opens.”
The post’s reference to the brutal nature of the sport inevitably raised some eyebrows and prompted a response from chief executive Avan Lee, who shared an honest review of the contract discussions between Savea and the club.
“There were conversations taking place between coaches and the player,” Lee said. “And obviously that didn’t work out in Julian’s favour. It’s massively difficult to go through a process like that and see a legend of the club leaving.
“The fact we had a new coaching setup was definitely a complication because that person hadn’t started, the coaches had to discuss players and contracts, who might be coming in and who might not be.
“For me, it’s the coach’s decision, but I stand beside it. But that was a part of the puzzle and was a complication.
“You build up a personal relationship with the senior players over eight or 10 years, so it is genuinely really difficult to see them go and we’ll absolutely miss Jules around our place.
“I’m not surprised he’s been picked up by another club given his experience and what he can bring off the field as much as on it.”
That new club will remain a mystery until next week, Savea teased the signing in a separate post.
“I still have plenty of more years in the tank,” Savea said. “I will be joining another Super Rugby team and will be announcing that next week. Watch this space.”
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The veteran’s versatility and experience will contribute hugely to whatever club acquires his services, with the ability to play in the midfield as well as on both wings well within his skill set.
The post’s comment section was flooded by peers wishing Savea all the best for his next chapter, including messages from brother Ardie, Quade Cooper, Aaron Smith, Cam Roigard, Ngani Laumape, TJ Perenara, Liam Messam and Rieko Ioane.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
31 Go to comments