It has been announced that Moana Pasifika will be axed from Super Rugby Pacific at the end of the 2026 season, which means Ardie Savea needs to find a new club.
The All Blacks star is currently on a sabbatical in Japan but was due to return for the 2027 campaign. However, that will now not happen, so we take a look at where he could be playing next year.
Just makes sense – Hurricanes
Savea spent 10 glorious years in Wellington, helping them to a Super Rugby title in 2016, and he was always happy there. With his wife and children still based in the capital – an important factor in his decision as will discussed later on – the Hurricanes are the big favourites to capture his signature.
Of course, there are teething issues to sort out, most notably finances and whether the ‘Canes have space to fit him in, but you know they will do their damnedest to bring the back-rower home should he an express an interest in re-signing.
They are stacked with loose forwards with Du’Plessis Kirifi, Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose and Brad Shields all contracted for 2027, while they are looking to tie down possible All Blacks prospect Devan Flanders.
“He’s (Flanders) definitely thinking, does he stay or does he go. I’m sure he’s got interest both here, with higher honours and certainly from us, and overseas,” ‘Canes boss Clark Laidlaw said.
“He’s one of those players in the sweet spot of playing his best rugby and how long does he stay in New Zealand and try to become an All Black. I’m sure it’ll pan out but we’re hopeful he’s going to keep playing the rugby he’s playing.
The versatile back-rower has entered the Test conversation after a stunning start to the Super Rugby Pacific season and the Hurricanes are desperate to keep hold of him but, should he depart overseas, Savea would not be a bad replacement.
In the mix – Blues
Another viable option given that Savea was based in Auckland while featuring for Moana during the 2025 Super Rugby campaign. The soon-to-be axed Pacific Island franchise play their games at North Harbour Stadium in Albany – one of the city’s suburbs – and he could well make the switch to the Blues as a result.
They also don’t quite have the depth of loose forward options as the Hurricanes and, with Dalton Papali’i and Hoskins Sotutu departing at the end of campaign, they could do with more experience in the back-row.
But again, that it all depends on the family. While Savea was in Auckland last season, his wife and children remained in Wellington before the All Blacks’ Test season between July and November continued to limit his time at home.
If he is to sign for the Blues, it would again take a certain amount of sacrifice, even if it was just one year as he looks ahead for the Rugby World Cup. The 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year could sign a longer-term deal and move his family up to Auckland, but a stint abroad will be a far more tempting option post-global tournament.
Hurricanes’ ‘insensitive’ verdict on Ardie Savea talk in the wake of Moana Pasifika’s demise
Outside bets – Crusaders, Chiefs, Highlanders, Japan
Ultimately, you cannot discount any of the New Zealand franchises with the World Cup in Australia looming. If Savea ends up being desperate enough to play in that tournament, you feel that he would accept any option on the table from the country’s five Super Rugby teams.
Equally, a short-term contract in Japan, equivalent to his current sabbatical, is a viable alternative, perhaps even more so than the Crusaders, Chiefs and Highlanders. Considering the situation with Moana and NZ Rugby’s desperation to keep Savea, certainly until the conclusion of the World Cup, they would probably accept another season in Asia before returning home ahead of the the global tournament.
The back-rower has evidently enjoyed his time at Kobelco Kobe Steelers over two separate stints and a third would be an acceptable alternative should the New Zealand franchises not be able to convince him to join.
Don’t rule it out – Ending World Cup dreams
An option which might not seem plausible at the moment as the World Cup is everything to most players but, in the cold light of day, it would not be a surprise to see Savea and his family pack up their bags and head abroad on a long-term contract.
It has been reported extensively that the star back-rower has repeatedly told the NZ Rugby hierarchy that he is ‘done’ with the All Blacks after an unhappy couple of years. It is not linked to Scott Robertson’s sacking, as was previously suggested, but the fact that he has struggled being away from his family for what is sometimes months on end.
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It is understood that NZR have told the loose forward that they will reject an early termination with the 32-year-old contracted until at least the end of the 2027 World Cup, but equally they will not want to keep a player who does not want to play for the national team anymore.
They are looking at ways of helping the former World Rugby Player of the Year in order to keep him content but, if they are unable to find common ground, then Moana’s demise may accelerate his departure from New Zealand.
There will be not shortage of suitors if he were to go on the market and there are plenty of clubs who would be willing to pay him a lucrative deal to play in Europe or Japan. If he were to choose Europe then France would be the most likely destination, but Leinster cannot be discounted while the English PREM’s marquee rule allows teams to spend big on a player outside of the salary cap.