{"id":864470,"date":"2026-08-22T14:52:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T14:52:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/864470\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T14:52:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T14:52:19","slug":"rugby-transfers-ardie-savea-linked-with-nrl-move-springboks-hopeful-extends-sharks-stay-and-leicester-sign-tonga-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/864470\/","title":{"rendered":"Rugby Transfers: Ardie Savea linked with NRL move, Springboks hopeful extends Sharks stay and Leicester sign Tonga star"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ardie Savea has been linked with a move to rugby league after it was revealed that he could make a shock switch to the 13-a-side code with the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Chiefs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ardie Savea set for code switch?<\/p>\n

The All Blacks<\/a> skipper\u2019s name has been mentioned with a possible move to the NRL expansion outfit.<\/p>\n

The PNG Chiefs are a rugby league club which was established in 2024, and they are scheduled to compete in the NRL in Australia from the 2028 season.<\/p>\n

Savea<\/a>, who is currently in South Africa with the All Blacks on their Greatest Rivalry tour, has returned to New Zealand after completing his latest sabbatical stint in Japan with the Kobelco Kobe Steelers.<\/p>\n

The 32-year-old previously represented the Hurricanes at Super Rugby level from 2013 to 2023 before joining the Kobelco Kobe Steelers for his first sabbatical in 2024.<\/p>\n

He then made a sensational switch to Moana Pasifika in 2025 before returning to the Steelers this year and helped them win the Japan Rugby League One title.<\/p>\n

After Moana Pasifika disbanded earlier this year, the 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year has also been linked with a move to the Blues for the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season.<\/p>\n

According to a RugbyPass report, the PNG Chiefs, who offer tax-free salaries, could be interested in acquiring Savea\u2019s services for their debut season in the NRL in 2028.<\/p>\n

Leicester Tigers bolster front-row stocks<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Leicester Tigers<\/a> have confirmed that they have signed Tongan international hooker Sam Moli ahead of the 2026\/27 campaign.<\/p>\n

The 27-year-old joins the PREM Rugby heavyweights from defunct Super Rugby Pacific outfit Moana Pasifika, where he made 47 appearances since that club was established in 2022.<\/p>\n

The experienced front-row has earned himself a reputation as a powerful and dynamic hooker and represented Tonga on 27 occasions since making his international debut against the All Blacks in 2021.<\/p>\n

Leicester Tigers head coach Geoff Parling is delighted that Moli has joined his club\u2019s ranks.<\/p>\n

Rugby\u2019s Greatest Rivalry: Ranking the top 10 players so far as Springboks snub enters the fray while All Blacks rookie \u2018rockets\u2019 into third<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cSam comes and adds some quality and depth to our hooking options. He\u2019s a big body and strong scrummager and someone we believe will suit the game in the Prem,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe knows he\u2019s got to make sure he\u2019s ready to make the most of this opportunity and we look forward to him arriving.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moli is determined to make a positive impact in his new surroundings.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited to step into this new chapter with the Tigers,\u201d he revealed. \u201cThe opportunity to rub shoulders with some of England\u2019s finest and to develop in the game is one I can\u2019t wait for.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m humbled to be a part of such a proud club and I\u2019m eager to put my best foot forward. I look to bring physicality, a team-first mentality and confidence, with the willingness to better myself in all aspects on-and-off the field.\u201d<\/p>\n

Springboks hopeful extend Sharks stay<\/p>\n

In other news, United Rugby Championship (URC) club the Sharks<\/a> have confirmed that exciting centre Jurenzo Julius<\/a> has signed a three-year contract extension with them.<\/p>\n

The 22-year-old Springboks hopeful made his debut for the Sharks in a URC match against Connacht in 2024.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Boogie Man dances on in black-and white,\u201d read a statement on the Sharks\u2019 official X, formerly known as Twitter, account. \u201cThe Sharks are pleased to announce that Jurenzo Julius has extended his stay in Durban until 2029.<\/p>\n

\u201cThree more years of silky moves through the midfield.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to a RugbyPass report, Stormers utility back and former South Africa \u2018A\u2019 representative Suleiman Hartzenberg has also joined the Sharks on a season-long loan.<\/p>\n

Hartzenberg, who is comfortable on the wing or at centre, fractured his hand at the back-end of last season and also had minor knee surgery earlier this year but was in action for the Stormers XXIII in the Currie Cup earlier this year.<\/p>\n

The 23-year-old, who represented the South Africa \u2018A\u2019 team in 2022, is reportedly staying with the Sharks until the end of June 2027.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Stephen Donald: Why Springboks\u2019 captaincy decision is \u2018a bit concerning\u2019 and where Rugby\u2019s Greatest Rivalry Test will be won<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ardie Savea has been linked with a move to rugby league after it was revealed that he could…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":864471,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[29928,64,63,818,39694,1736,44,20248,760,1042,85,18559,134441],"class_list":["post-864470","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-ardie-savea","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-home-page","tag-leicester-tigers","tag-new-zealand","tag-news","tag-premiership","tag-rugby","tag-sharks","tag-sports","tag-tonga","tag-united-rugby-championship"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/864470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=864470"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/864470\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/864471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=864470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=864470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=864470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}