‘Ignites a fire within myself’: Ardie Savea defends Moana Pasifika switch

Former Hurricanes backrower Ardie Savea has doubled down on his decision to sign with Moana Pasifika for 2025 and beyond amid some criticism of what the move might mean for the All Blacks vice-captain at Test level.

As reported by The New Zealand Herald late last week, Savea was close to inking a deal with New Zealand Rugby through till the 2027 Rugby World Cup which was set to see the loose forward don a new club’s kit in Super Rugby Pacific.

The rumour mill has been in full swing over recent weeks with Savea having been linked to Auckland-based Moana Pasifika. There were also murmurs that Vaea Fifita would be heading to the same team but the former All Black has decided to stay in Wales.

Savea, 30, released a video on social media on Sunday to confirm the move. Moana Pasifika, the Hurricanes and New Zealand Rugby all released statements as the rugby world came to terms with the blockbuster transfer.

But not everyone is “convinced” by the move. Former New Zealand wing turned popular pundit Sir John Kirwan has questioned on The Breakdown whether Savea’s decision will “help us as All Blacks” in the years to come.

The man himself has hit back by delving into the “great challenge” that awaits.

On The Morning Shift, Savea said: “It’s crazy you mentioned it because that’s one of the biggest discussion points that I’ve had in my journey and my process was, is Moana a good enough club for me in terms of high performance? Will I come out of the Moana season being a better player or a player that’s gone backwards?

“My heart and my belief is that it doesn’t matter what quality there is. (It’s about) the discipline and the standard within me. If I go there and think I’m going to relax, then I’m going to go backwards.

“I’m going to go there and I’m going to try and push myself, push my teammates, they’re going to push me.

“Who knows? I can never tell the future. I might turn up and not be a good All Black but I don’t think it’s because of Moana, it will be mainly for myself.

“That’s been one of the biggest risks of signing with Moana, according to some people, but that’s a great challenge and that’s something that ignites a fire within myself and I just see it as a disrespect to the Moana Pasifika team.

“For the brothers that are listening in the team, what an awesome motivation to hold. People, organisations telling you that I’m going to be a worse off player playing at Moana when I go to the All Blacks, that just riles me up because it’s doubting my people, it’s doubting the players in the team.”

Savea was expected to wear the iconic yellow jersey of the Hurricanes once again next season after completing a sabbatical in Japan with Kobe Steelers.

The 30-year-old has played more than 130 games for the club based out of the capital, and it was widely believed that he would bolster their already quality backrow stocks once again from the 2025 campaign.

But the reigning World Rugby 15s Player of the Year is excited about a new challenge, which could see him take the field alongside brother Julian once again.

“I’ve always believed in it but this one was even more special because of the announcement… just put my phone down, listen to my worship and just reflect on the journey, my career so far. It’s a huge blessing,” Savea reflected.

“People think I’m at the peak but I’m just getting started.

“I can’t wait till what God’s got in store for the future.”

In the club’s third season in Super Rugby Pacific, Moana Pasifika registered four wins from 14 matches. That might not seem like an outstanding campaign going off that alone but they showed genuine signs of promise and growth in 2024.

Moana got the better of Fijian Drua 39-36 in early March and later beat the Western Force in Perth, the Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs. The Tana Umaga-coached side is improving and that’s exciting for fans in the Pacific region.

But Savea isn’t too focused on titles. Success, as the backrower defined it, is “just having influence and impact in people’s lives.”

“Success is that Moana is in a better place, in a better position than when I first came in.

“Success for me is if one of the brothers at Moana came up to me and just said, ‘Thank you for helping me in the journey. Thank you for helping me for my rugby.’ That’s a win for me.

“I don’t follow titles, I follow courage. I think that’s the biggest thing, just having influence and impact in people’s lives and at the same time I’ve grown and learned.”