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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Just makes sense \u2013 Hurricanes<\/p>\n
Savea<\/a> spent 10 glorious years in Wellington, helping them to a Super Rugby<\/a> title in 2016, and he was always happy there. With his wife and children still based in the capital \u2013 an important factor in his decision as will discussed later on \u2013 the Hurricanes are the big favourites to capture his signature.<\/p>\n Of course, there are teething issues to sort out, most notably finances and whether the \u2018Canes 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.<\/p>\n They are stacked with loose forwards with Du\u2019Plessis Kirifi, Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose and Brad Shields all contracted for 2027, while they are looking to tie down possible All Blacks<\/a> prospect Devan Flanders.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s (Flanders) definitely thinking, does he stay or does he go. I\u2019m sure he\u2019s got interest both here, with higher honours and certainly from us, and overseas,\u201d \u2018Canes boss Clark Laidlaw said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s 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\u2019m sure it\u2019ll pan out but we\u2019re hopeful he\u2019s going to keep playing the rugby he\u2019s playing.<\/p>\n The versatile back-rower has entered the Test conversation after a stunning start to the Super Rugby Pacific season and the Hurricanes<\/a> are desperate to keep hold of him but, should he depart overseas, Savea would not be a bad replacement.<\/p>\n In the mix \u2013 Blues<\/p>\n 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 \u2013 one of the city\u2019s suburbs \u2013 and he could well make the switch to the Blues as a result.<\/p>\n They also don\u2019t quite have the depth of loose forward options as the Hurricanes and, with Dalton Papali\u2019i and Hoskins Sotutu departing at the end of campaign, they could do with more experience in the back-row.<\/p>\n 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\u2019 Test season between July and November continued to limit his time at home.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Hurricanes\u2019 \u2018insensitive\u2019 verdict on Ardie Savea talk in the wake of Moana Pasifika\u2019s demise<\/a><\/p>\n Outside bets \u2013 Crusaders, Chiefs, Highlanders, Japan<\/p>\n 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\u2019s five Super Rugby teams.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t rule it out \u2013 Ending World Cup dreams<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n It has been reported extensively that the star back-rower has repeatedly told the NZ Rugby hierarchy that he is \u2018done\u2019 with the All Blacks after an unhappy couple of years. It is not linked to Scott Robertson\u2019s sacking, as was previously suggested, but the fact that he has struggled being away from his family for what is sometimes months on end.<\/p>\n