Renowned former All Blacks player, John Kirwan, has recently questioned Ardie Savea’s decision to join Moana Pasifika, citing concerns about its potential impact on Savea’s performance in the New Zealand national team.
Ardie Savea, aged 30, made headlines with his surprise departure from the Wellington Hurricanes, a team he had been a prominent part of for over a decade, to join Moana Pasifika. The team had a disappointing performance in the 2024 Super Rugby season, finishing second to last in the standings.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Kirwan expressed his reservations about the move, suggesting that Savea’s form for the All Blacks could be negatively affected if Moana Pasifika fail to improve their performance in the upcoming season.
“While I wish the best for Moana Pasifika, the question is whether this move will benefit Ardie Savea if the team continues to struggle,” Kirwan stated, highlighting the potential additional workload and challenges that Savea may face as a result of the move.
Drawing from his own experiences as a player who had signed with a second-tier club in Italy during his career, Kirwan emphasized the potential impact of such a significant change in environment on a player’s performance at the international level.
Savea had taken a break from rugby this year to play club matches in Japan following the 2023 World Cup. During his absence, the Hurricanes excelled in the Super Rugby competition, finishing at the top of the table before being eliminated in the playoff semi-finals.
The veteran back-row forward, who has earned 84 Test caps for the All Blacks, will be joining his older brother Julian at Moana Pasifika, a team composed of players with Pacific island heritage. Savea’s decision to sign a three-year contract with the Auckland-based club means he will be available to represent New Zealand at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
In a statement, Savea expressed his desire to honour his Samoan roots and contribute to his heritage, indicating a strong personal motivation behind his move to Moana Pasifika.
While the signing of Savea is undoubtedly a significant achievement for Moana Pasifika, it has come as a disappointment to the Wellington Hurricanes, with the team’s chief executive, Avan Lee, acknowledging Savea’s departure while wishing him the best in his new venture.
As the rugby community awaits the unveiling of this new chapter in Savea’s career, the concerns raised by John Kirwan serve as a reminder of the complexities and considerations involved in a player’s decision to change teams at such a high level of the sport.