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All Blacks star Ardie Savea signs with Jay-Z's sports agency

Photo: ©INPHO/James Crombie

All Blacks star Ardie Savea has signed with legendary rapper Jay-Z’s sports talent management agency Roc Nation Sports.

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A sub-division of Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by Jay-Z in 2008, Roc Nation Sports was established in 2013 and supports athletes in the same way in which Roc Nation has advocated for entertainers over the past 13 years.

News of Roc Nation Sports’ acquisition of Savea comes after it was confirmed last week that the 28-year-old loose forward had re-signed with New Zealand Rugby through until 2025.

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In a press release, Roc Nation Sports said it “will manage Savea’s career both on and off the field with a focus on his brand, off-field entrepreneurial projects and philanthropy”.

“My family and I are so excited to be joining Roc Nation,” Savea said in a statement upon confirmation of his signing with the agency on Tuesday.

“Having a highly skilled team of specialists behind me looking after all aspects of my career will not only allow me to concentrate on my on- field performance but provide long term security for my family and a platform for me to pursue other areas of interest that I am really passionate about.”

By signing with Roc Nation Sports, Savea joins a high-profile stable of athletes, including fellow rugby stars such as Springboks quintet Siya Kolisi, Cheslin Kolbe, Trevor Nyakane, Sbu Nkosi and Aphelele Fassi, as well as England lock Maro Itoje.

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The agency also has a variety of other athletes on its books, such as NFL stars Todd Gurley and Saquon Barkley, NBA stars LaMelo Ball and Danny Green, footballers Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, and former boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard.

Some of the entertainers signed to Roc Nation includes Alicia Keys, Big Sean, Christina Aguilera, DJ Khaled, A$AP FERG, J. Cole, Lil Uzi Vert, Meek Mill and Rihanna, among many others.

In a video released by Roc Nation, DJ Khaled welcomed Savea to the agency, which he described as “a family”.

“Ardie, bless up and congratulations on all your blessings, your love and your success. Welcome to Roc Nation. We’re a family over here. Congrats on more wins, more blessings, from DJ Khaled.”

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Kolisi, who introduced Savea to signing with Roc Nation Sports after having done so himself two years ago, also welcomed the 59-test All Black to the agency as he shared his excitement to work with his on-field rival in an off-field capacity.

“Ardie is my brother and to now be able to work with him professionally off the field, in addition to doing battle on it, is an amazing feeling,” Kolisi, the 2019 World Cup-winning Springboks captain, said.

“Both of us have experienced many similar challenges throughout our career – and so to join forces with somebody so like-minded and determined to influence change makes me very excited for the future.”

Roc Nation Sports international president Michael Yormick echoed Kolisi’s excitement at the acquisition of Savea’s signature.

“We are super excited to welcome another elite, world-class rugby player into the Roc Nation family,” Yormick said.

“Not only is Ardie an extraordinary rugby player, but his personality and off-field goals and objectives mirror perfectly what our company stands for and the voice we want to have in the rugby community.

“There is no doubt that bringing Ardie into our family brings us a step closer to changing the game. ”

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Hellhound 48 minutes ago
Scotland's Gregor Townsend confirms Tom Jordan Glasgow exit

NZ lost a great player there. Played brilliantly for Glasgow and against SA was the best player on the pitch. Caused the Boks some headaches. Slot him into the current AB's team, and they would be very dangerous, especially broken play.


However, the Scots isn't stupid and their recruiting from the SH countries is starting to pay off. They don't have the player pool the SH countries have, nor that of their neighbours even.


I applaud them for being so open-minded as giving those players who have loyally played their rugby in Scotland for years a chance. SA for one have such a vast pool of players that's so talented and could be world class given the smallest chance, but will never get a look in because there is just so many stars in the country.


I don't mind that Saffas play for other countries to further their own careers. Besides, it makes Scotland better and makes for one more team to step up to the big stage and make rugby more exciting than just the top 4 that usually wins.


Scotland may have lost by 17 against a rusty Bok "B" team, but that score is not a true indication of that match. The Scottish biggest mistakes was kicking at goal the entire time, instead of going for the jugular. If they tried to go for tries, they may have been stopped and the score might have been bigger, but the game was on such a knife edge, that if they did go for it, they might have scored a couple of tries or more and we very well might have seen a Scottish upset.


It was by no means a bad effort at all. Tom Jordan is one of their best new talents coming through. He should've stayed with Glasgow. What a loss for the URC Champs. Going to Loftus and getting one over the Bulls is something that not even the so called best team in club rugby could do. Leinster keeps losing at Loftus. For Glasgow to do that in a Final was phenomenal and Tom Jordan was no small part of that feat.


Rugby is truely becoming a global sport now, where the eligibility rules is making rugby a much smaller world, but a much bigger global game. The Scots is most likely the team with the most aliens in their team. They welcome players with open arms. I applaud that. They are a sleeping giant, and if they continue playing like they did against the Boks, despite the results, they will become a real threat for 2027.


I admired how they played. They impressed everyone. I say good on them. Results will come if they continue on their upward trajectory. I wish them and Tom Jordan all the luck they deserve.

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