'I want to test myself': All Blacks star Ardie Savea reveals shock rugby league ambitions
Star All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea has revealed he is keen to make a shock code swap to rugby league before the end of his career.
Speaking on The Ice Project podcast, hosted by former rugby league international Isaac John, Savea said that he had been contemplating making a switch to the 13-man game as early as next year.
The 26-year-old, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury sustained during last year’s World Cup, is contracted to New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2021, but told the podcast that he was “low-key thinking about it (a code switch) for next year”.
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Savea cited former All Blacks teammate and new Toronto Wolfpack signing Sonny Bill Williams as a source of inspiration for such a move, which would send shockwaves across both rugby union and league worldwide.
“100 per cent I want to play rugby league, I think they (the players) do a lot more in terms of off the field stuff. And also, just a new challenge. I want to test myself,” Savea said.
“Learning a whole new game and seeing if I can dominate or, play the way I play in union, that excites me. Seeing guys like Sonny do it kind of plays on my mind a bit.”
The Hurricanes veteran ruled out a move to the New Zealand-based Warriors, however, as he admitted that if a move to the NRL came to fruition, he would likely only suit up for a powerhouse club, such as the Sydney Roosters or Melbourne Storm.
“Strategically I would want to got to a team that was dominating, like the Storm or Roosters,” he said.
“It sucks that I got this injury because I was low key thinking about it (switching to league) for next year.”
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Savea’s bombshell revelations comes after former Wallabies pivot Quade Cooper expressed a similar desire to make play rugby league on the same podcast in December.
At the age of 31, though, Cooper’s quest to play in the NRL appears less likely than that of Savea, who is still only 26 and at the peak of his powers, as evidenced by his World Rugby player of the year nomination in 2019.
While the implications of a move by Savea to rugby league would be felt on an enormous scale in both codes, the impact would be particularly damaging for the Hurricanes.
The Wellington-based franchise have already lost their key playmaker Beauden Barrett to the Blues and their head coach John Plumtree to the All Blacks.
Adding Savea to their departure list beyond next year would be an even more cruel blow for the one-time Super Rugby champions than for the All Blacks, who would still be able to call upon the services of Sam Cane at openside flanker.
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The eighth-placed Hurricanes are hopeful Savea will be available for selection by April, about two-to-three months earlier than first anticipated after he underwent knee surgery at the end of last year.
In other news:
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It’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
4 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
2 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
4 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
2 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
5 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
5 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
5 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
5 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
4 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to comments